Institution and QinetiQ enter into MoU

The Institution has joined forces with QinetiQ in order to help it develop its professional engineers and inspire the next generation.

The Institution has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with defence technology company QinetiQ to help it raise the profile of its engineers across the company’s nine businesses and 40 sites. Many of these sites are managed on behalf of the MoD. 

QinetiQ has around 5,000 employees, with around 80% of those estimated to be working in STEM-related roles. This includes working on projects ranging from making engines for satellites, to improving the effectiveness of bomb disposal robots, to developing acoustic sensors to detect faults on train wheels. 

QinetiQ also owns a fleet of aircraft and in September 2013, the company opened a new Maritime Autonomy Centre in Portsmouth. A key supplier to the European market, the centre allows the defence industry to test and assess the performance of new autonomous technology in a secure environment. It also provides opportunities for closed-water and open-water testing. 

Under the agreement, the Institution has made a commitment to continue its work with QinetiQ to strengthen the delivery of its engineering apprenticeship and graduate schemes. The Institution will also continue to work with QinetiQ to increase the in-company recognition of its experienced engineers and technicians, and better support engineers who are working towards becoming a Fellow.

The MoU was signed on 3 June at One Birdcage Walk by the Institution’s CEO, Stephen Tetlow MBE, and QinetiQ’s Director of Capability, Ian Beresford. The Institution’s Senior Business Development Manager, Nicole Rinaldi, also attended the meeting and worked closely with Ian and his team to draft the agreement. 

Ian said: “Skills development is vital to QinetiQ. We realise that investing in people will give us a key edge. It’s an absolute focus for us and we recognise that business growth will come through our people. It’s vital not only for the success of our business but also for the UK. One of the ways we do this is through EngTechNow and QinetiQ was one of the initial signatories.

“We are hugely supportive of employees gaining professional registration and recognition and are keen to use the Institution’s development pathways to allow our staff to build on their existing skills. For example, we’re a member of The 5% Club. This means that we have pledged that we will ensure that 5% of our workforce over the next five years will be apprentices undergoing training or are graduates on a two-year formal programme.”

The 5% Club is focused on encouraging companies to recruit more apprentices and graduates into the workforce. Its members are drawn from public and private companies in the UK who want to make a difference and support the UK’s ability to compete in increasingly tough global markets.  

Ian added: “We are also about to establish a QinetiQ Academy, which will include three facilities, including a leadership and management faculty, to help develop the skills of our engineers.  

“We are also seeking to help bring clarity to a confused STEM educational landscape for parents and young people. We need to equip young people with the skills they need. As a sector we need to speak to government with a coherent voice.”

Stephen said: “Thank you to Ian and the team at QinetiQ for working with us to set up this framework. This is an exciting opportunity for the Institution and QinetiQ to join forces and inspire a future generation of engineers and help existing engineers develop professionally. We’re looking forward to working together to roll out support to QinetiQ where it’s needed. 

“The Institution takes a campaigning stance and speaks in a stronger voice than other bodies, we are also very engaged with government and maintain an ongoing dialogue with policymakers.” 

The Institution has agreed to continue to support QinetiQ’s plans for skills development by providing assistance with the following:

• Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) support.
• Support for apprentices working towards EngTech.
• Support for potential Fellows.

The Institution will also continue to provide QinetiQ with further opportunities, support and engagement in the form of:

• A steering group which will allow for the strategic and tactical support of QinetiQ objectives.
• Attendance at QinetiQ engineering events and conferences in order to promote the value of professional registration to QinetiQ employees.
• Regular discussions around opportunities for involvement with the Institution’s programme of technical events, conferences and seminars.
• Opportunities to support QinetiQ’s STEM ambassadors.

In turn, QinetiQ have agreed to continue to help raise the profile of their engineers and encourage growth in the number of professionally registered engineers across the UK by:

• Encouraging its engineers to join the Institution and undertake professional development programmes.
• Encouraging its engineers to take part in the Learned Society activities of the Institution.
• Hosting Institution events for the benefit of QinetiQ employees and other engineers in the local community.
• Working with the Institution to compile a further learning programme in order to present routes to registration to a broader cross section of engineers at QinetiQ’s various sites.
• Working in partnership with the Institution in the development of effective communication links with its engineers.

If you would like to find out how the Institution can support you or your organisation email the Business Development Team at: bdm@imeche.org.