The EngTechNow charter was signed by Prospect at the parliamentary launch of a report into emerging approaches to the skills and experience gap in engineering. The report sets out some of the practical steps needed across industry to ensure the economy can continue to thrive by better developing professional technician roles.

One of these steps involves encouraging the registration of engineering technicians, a status which recognises their skills and experience as well as helping them progress their careers through a vocational process.

Dai Hudd, deputy general secretary of Prospect, said today: “In signing the EngTechNow charter Prospect is signalling the importance it attaches to developing and safeguarding a skilled workforce.

“As the union representing skilled workers, Prospect aims through its RegTech project to promote and support the registration of not only engineering technicians but also IT and science technicians in the many workplace where its members can be found.”

Blane Judd, Chief Executive of EngTechNow, who co-signed the charter, added: “Engineering talent underpins the productivity of the whole UK economy, so with a major skills and experience gap looming, it is great to see forward-thinking trade unions like Prospect using their influence to drive a solution that will benefit the wider economy and their members.”

EngTechNow Charter signatories include: 
Amey, Carillion, Crossrail, Doosan Babcock, E.ON, Jaguar Land Rover, NG Bailey, Prospect, QinetiQ, Royal Mail, Thames Tideway, and TSSA.

In signing this charter, Prospect commits to:

• Support the shared strategic ambition to improve the status and recognition of engineering technicians so that they can develop their own educational, career and personal potential and maximise their opportunities for continuing professional development 
• Work with companies at which we are recognised to raise awareness of the business and personal benefits of professional registration as EngTech 
• Actively promote EngTech professional registration to all technicians across our membership through communications and trade union learning reps
• Jointly promote and work in partnership to raise the profile of the technician agenda

For further information contact:
Rachel Bennett 020 7902 6687 (w) 07713 511705 (m) [email protected]
Andrew Child 020 7902 6681 (w) [email protected]