Articles
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has reached the historic milestone of 100,000 members. We meet the 100,000th member, Nicola McClatchey (pictured), and find out more about what this landmark achievement means for mechanical engineering.
Founded in 1847 at the Curzon Street railway station – one day to be the site of the Birmingham high-speed rail terminus – the institution had as its first president George Stephenson, “Father of the Railways”. It has represented some of the world’s greatest engineers, from Joseph Whitworth, who standardised screws, to Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine, and has helped to keep the UK at the forefront of engineering excellence.
Not only has the IMechE enrolled 100,000 members for the first time in its 164-year history, but membership has grown from 75,000 in 2007 – an increase of 33% in five years. Significantly, there has also been a surge in applications to study for engineering degrees since the 2008 financial crisis, with more students now choosing engineering than law, languages or teaching.
Stephen Tetlow, IMechE chief executive, said: “The country of Brunel, Stephenson and Whittle is witnessing a much-needed resurgence in engineering. It is more popular among British students than ever. The growth of engineering-based industries, such as UK car manufacturing, is proving to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy economic backdrop. Yet we cannot be complacent. Engineers play an increasingly vital role in almost every major industry, from medicine to energy, yet the UK still needs 19,000 extra engineering graduates every year over the next five years to meet future demand.
“The institution’s membership reaching 100,000 is an historic milestone and an important signal that the profession is growing in size and stature.”
County Antrim engineer Nicola McClatchey discovered her passion for engineering at college, finishing top of her year and winning an award of merit from The Honourable The Irish Society for her course. She went on to receive a scholarship from the Institution of Engineering and Technology to study for an engineering management BEng at the University of Ulster.
Since leaving university in 2005, McClatchey has worked as a manufacturing engineer at FG Wilson (Engineering) – the largest maker of power generators in Europe – in Larne, County Antrim. She is responsible for improving the safety, efficiency and working practices at one of the most successful manufacturers in Northern Ireland, overseeing a design-to-order area that makes bespoke solutions for customers.
For McClatchey, the best thing about being an engineer is the problem-solving. “I enjoy the challenge of figuring out a puzzle and finding solutions to problems,” she said. “This is one of the main roles we play as manufacturing engineers: designing the manufacture process and developing a production line that is cost-effective and gives the customer what they need.”
The institution has been working with government and the media to push the value to the economy of the oft-maligned manufacturing industry, and McClatchey is well aware of its significance: “Manufacturers such as FG Wilson are very important to the economy and the lives of its employees.
“FG Wilson is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland across its four sites, and I have found that the Larne site is the heart of the town. It provides business to smaller companies, and it helps the community through charity support.”
McClatchey hopes to stay within the manufacturing industry, moving on to a project management or team leader role – a goal that professional registration should help her move towards. “I had previously been an associate member of another institution, but found that the IMechE was willing to provide more support to further my career,” she said. “My team leader encouraged us to apply for professional registration, and the institution provided a lot of help and guidance to accomplish this. It made the process easy to follow and allowed me to gain registration alongside my busy working life.”