I am a Principal Permanent Way Engineer with Arcadis, working on projects such as Beckton Depot – Maintenance Facility Building (Client: Transport for London), HS2 Curzon Street Station (as Track CRE), and DLR S&C Renewals Phase 1 (Client: Docklands Light Railway).

Why did I pursue professional qualification?

During my onboarding for the HS2 project, a series of questions were asked by the design organisation about my education and professional qualifications. I answered that I had yet to attain a professional qualification, which led to further questions about why I hadn’t pursued one despite possessing the required skill set. This made me realise that a professional qualification is no longer a desirable criterion but has become an essential one for safety-oriented projects. This understanding helped me expedite my path to attaining the Chartered Engineer qualification, although the process had been underway since 2016.

How did PWI help in my qualification journey?

PWI’s licence as a Professional Engineering Institution, promoting its Members to achieve a professional qualification through its Journal, reminders at Section meetings, and at Seminars, engaged me in the process. PWI’s guidance documents, exemplar reports, and knowledgeable staff made the journey straightforward and helped me navigate my way to professional qualification.

What does attaining a professional qualification mean to me?

The journey to attain a professional qualification requires dedication, planning, and commitment, which in turn makes an individual competent and committed to the profession. Being recognised as a Chartered Engineer will allow me to advance my career, working on projects across the globe that require professionally qualified and accredited engineers.