Electrical and Electronic Engineering

In general, electrical engineers deal with power generation and power supply, while electronic engineering is about the way electricity is used to control equipment. However, the very close association of the Institute of Electrical Engineers with the British Computer Society suggests that the line between electrical and electronic engineering is thin and hazy.

Modern manufacturing techniques tend to make replacement of a faulty component more cost-effective for the consumer than mending it in situ. Much of the traditional role of the maintenance engineer has therefore changed, particularly in the electronics field, with removal and re-installation of faulty chips and boards the norm.

Electrical and electronic engineering includes such area as informatics, control, electronics and communications, power management, manufacturing and science, and engineering and technology. Its associated industries span aerospace, construction, media and communications, medical technologies, railways and road transport.

More specific information on some aspects of electronic engineering can be found in the articles on computing and IT, and telecommunications on the Quest website at www.questonline.co.uk

Electrical and electronic engineering in the Services

All three Services have electronic engineering specialists, working on sophisticated and complex instruments, vehicles, engines (including nuclear reactors) and other equipment. Qualifications range from master’s degrees, through Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships, National Certificates and Diplomas to NVQ Level 2, with institute membership at the appropriate grade being available to most professional engineers.

Electrical engineering is somewhat different. In general, Service electricians work on equipment that moves rather than static installations, although Royal Engineers electricians work across the whole spectrum of power supply from generation to distribution in difficult and dangerous environments. The Royal Navy has an installed capacity of five megawatts on its smaller ships and 14 megawatts in the bigger classes of vessel so Naval engineers are very familiar with electrical generation and distribution within ships.

Qualifications

It is necessary to have qualifications to work in any branch of engineering. The academic ones include degrees, diplomas and certificates, while vocational qualifications include Vocational A-levels, General National Vocational Qualifications, Modern Apprenticeships, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).

Engineering Council UK

The Engineering Council UK is the profession’s lead body and registers all engineers who have met standards of education, training and professional competence at one of 35 engineering institutions. The Register has three sections:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng)
• Engineering Technician (EngTech).

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

The IET (with 150,000 members worldwide) came into being in spring 2006 through an amalgamation of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), to form the second-largest professional engineering body in the world. It has active networks in 37 countries, while it accredits 160 UK undergraduate courses, awards medals and prizes, gives £433,000 in scholarships, organises 120 conferences and publishes 100 new titles every year.

Membership (without post-nominals) is available for anyone who would value and benefit from being a member. They must agree to comply with the IET’s Royal Charter, byelaws and Rules of Conduct, thus providing assurance of professionalism and ethical and moral conduct to clients, colleagues and employers.

Student Members are those undergoing a programme of study in a science, engineering or technology-related field, who intend to satisfy the requirements for the category of member with post-nominals.

Technician Membership is open to professional technicians who can demonstrate by their education and/or experience that they are professionally engaged in one of the many technology fields within the scope of the Institution. They must demonstrate that they have achieved appropriate qualifications or a suitable level of work experience in the fields of science, engineering or technology.

Membership is open to all professional engineers and graduate professionals who are engaged in one of the many technology fields within the scope of the Institution or who are established professionals with knowledge based on experience. They can become a member with the MIET post-nominals by demonstrating that they have achieved appropriate qualifications or a suitable level of work experience in the fields of science, engineering or technology. The latter might include being a non-commissioned military trainer, or having served in the Armed Forces as a commissioned officer or warrant officer or equivalent.

Fellowship recognises significant individual responsibility, sustained achievement and professionalism in areas relevant to the interests of the Institution. It is the most senior category of membership and is awarded to members who have demonstrated significant individual responsibility, sustained achievement and exceptional professionalism during their careers. Applicants must clearly demonstrate successful leadership or outstanding service to the profession over an extended period, normally not less than five years.

Other qualifications

The Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA) is the Sector Skills Council for this area. It has developed a series of engineering National Occupational Standards at Levels 1 to 5, which are extremely comprehensive and detailed.

The Electrical Contracting Industry’s Joint Industry Board regulates relations between employers and employees. including productivity, skills levels and wages. It also runs the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS), under which people are issued with cards that show their overall level of competence, specialisations and qualifications. Grades at which cards are issued are:

• managerial/supervisory
• skilled
• ancillary operative
• electrical improver
• apprentice
• adult trainee
• labourer.

For electrical engineering, the basic requirement is 16th Edition Wiring Regulations. This shows that the individual knows the necessary regulations and how to use them, and it is virtually impossible to start in the industry without it. The course and exam can be taken in a one-week course at the Resettlement Training Centre and leads to the award of the Level 3 City & Guilds 2381 qualification. (Prior attendance on the two-week Domestic Electrical Installation course and/or good electrical knowledge is required.)

The next step is the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations Level 3 City & Guilds 2391 qualification, obtained through a one-week RTC course. Following that, the RTC offers a one-day Applicable Building Regulations for Domestic Electrical Installation course for qualified students to be able to work as a professional electrician. Service leavers can also attend the three-day RTC Level 3 Inspection and Testing (PAT) of Electrical Equipment City & Guilds 2377-01 and 2377-02.

The Electrical Contractors Association’s members employ more than 30,000 people and support 8,000 apprentices. It aims to:

• promote quality and safety through

– qualification of companies

– training, qualification and reward of individuals

– attracting and retaining quality employees

• promote standards for electrical installations
• encourage new technologies and installation practices
• influence the market.

Employment

The most highly qualified people (degrees and above) generally plan and manage electrical and electronic engineering projects, with the next level of expertise supervising their implementation, and the least skilled people actually doing the work. Experience leads to bigger and better jobs, while academic and vocational qualifications make it possible for the individual to develop and move up the career ladder.

In the electrical engineering industry, projects are contracted and then sub-contracted to many different entities. Most people start as an electrician’s mate or work for a contractor for a minimum of two years to gain experience. Once they have worked for a while on a number of projects, and obtained a good reputation and the necessary qualifications, they can set up on their own. All contractors must inspect and test their own work. They may also inspect and test other electrical work for landlords, insurance companies and major builders.

Salaries

Adult trainees over 21 will probably start on about £17,000, with improvers on around £19,000 and approved electricians on about £24,000. They will also receive shift pay and overtime. EngTechs might expect to earn around £28,000, while IEngs could start on £20,000, rising to £35,000 as they gain experience, and up to £50,000 for senior people. CEngs are the most qualified people, starting at about £25,000, and with an upper limit that depends entirely on the type of work done, the contract terms, the seniority of the individual, and the company. The industry average is £50,000.

Contact details

Engineering Council UK, 10 Maltravers Street, London WC2R 3ER Tel: 020 7240 7891 Website: www.engc.org.uk

Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, LondonWC2R 0BL Tel: 020 7240 1871 Website: www.theiet.org

Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance, 14 Upton Road, Watford, Herts WD18 0JT Tel: 01923 238441 Website: www.semta.org.uk

Joint Industry Board, Kingswood House, 47/51 Sidcup Hill, Sidcup, KentDA14 6HP Tel: 020 8302 0031 Fax: 020 8309 1103 Website: www.jib.org.uk