I began looking into the Incorporated Engineer title after approximately 10 years in the industry, with the railway-specific PWI the ideal Institution to assist with gaining the accreditation. The main reason for pursuing the IEng credential was to demonstrate a commitment to both academic progression and also professional development, with the PWI offering a pathway to the accreditation via the Technical Report Option (TRO).

This route allowed me to demonstrate my technical knowledge of my chosen discipline, taken from a combination of both past design and project delivery roles, along with past academic achievements, to ensure that elements such as degree-level engineering mathematics, science and a commitment to industry safety were exhibited. I found the process enjoyable throughout, with my core expertise on my chosen discipline challenged, and also identifying areas to progress my knowledge independently.

The fact that the TRO process does not have set deadlines allowed me to balance work life and family commitments, whilst also studying and progressing my submission. Already I have noticed benefits in my working habits, such as increased attention to CPD and PDP, as well as being able to provide tangible evidence in the form of the IEng qualification when undertaking Client competency assessments for roles such as Designer and Contractors Responsible Engineer.

I am genuinely grateful for all the help and support provided by the PWI throughout.