IMechE and AFBE-UK sign agreement to promote diversity

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Association for Black & Ethnic Minority Engineers have signed a partnership agreement to promote diversity and look for ways to encourage more black and ethnic minority students to consider engineering as a career.

The collaboration aims to support IMechE achieve its diversity and inclusion ambitions through the provision of strategic advice from AFBE-UK, the largest body representing black and ethnic minority engineers in the UK.

As part of the agreement, IMechE and AFBE-UK will hold joint workshops, promote professional registration by AFBE UK members and work on policy initiatives to use best practice to increase racial and ethnic diversity within the engineering profession.

Jo Horton, Member Operations Director at IMechE, said:

“This agreement is important as the engineering profession has much to be proud of, but we need to ensure that it is welcoming to all people with the right skills and knowledge regardless of their background.”

Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE CEng FIMechE, Chair of IMechE’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said:

“At IMechE we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all our members and employees know they belong, feel valued and can thrive. We need to do more to support broader recruitment of members and also encourage members from all backgrounds to become more involved in our activities.”

Dr Nike Folayan MBE, Chair, AFBE-UK, said:

“We are delighted to be working with the IMechE on their drive to make engineering a more inclusive space. We’ve had some very meaningful discussions and are looking forward working closely with them on a number of initiatives.”

Last year, IMechE launched a new strategy to embed equity, diversity, and inclusion into all our activities and to be a key driver in our aspirations going forward.

There are several activities discussed for next year, one of which will be a talk hosted by AFBE-UK for IMechE employees and members in February 2023.