Concrete Angels

Bored? Read this document. This an annual online PDF report published by EngineeringUK, aimed at summarising the state of engineering in the UK.

Don't worry they do mention civil and structural engineers :)

It's a fantastic read, and it highlights that EngineeringUK are committed to the pursuit of two important strategic goals:

• Improve the perception of engineering, engineers and technology in the UK.

• To improve the supply of engineers.

It says so, on page 1. So you had better believe it!

How do they intend on tackling these age old problems? With age old, tried [tired] and tested techniques of course. Are you beginning to understand why our industry has not really moved on for the last 30 years or so now?

The report is a very large one, and deserves a great deal more attention than I am about to afford it. Many apologies in advance to the documents authors [co authors etc.], I will be absorbing it in its entirety for the next few weeks.

Right here, right now though - I am interested in understanding how civil and structural engineering, education, public awareness and training is being dealt with.

Interesting statistics from 'engineering education' sources:

• 47% of educators think that a career in engineering is desirable.
• 21% of students aged 14 to 16, think that a career in engineering is desirable.

Apparently someone has been telling students that you need to be strong in sciences and maths. Both subjects are real crowd pleaser's obviously, so inevitably there will be a tailing off in interest... we shouldn't be surprised of that.

Question. Those few students, who have decided that an average starting salary of £25-26k is a large enough carrot to stomach the maths homework, won't they just be subsequently exposed to an industry which has been rigidly carrying out the same training and education routines for the last 50+ years?


So who cares? The industry is hardly changing, it's just adapting and reacting to loss of students to the financial and insurance sectors. We need a real change. Don't we?

Why do we insist on gambling our futures on 14-16 year old students who are currently still hedging their bets on being discovered as the next X-Factor mega star or the managing director of the next billionaire start-up?

Next on my list of 'DOH!' events is so called green technologies. Don't get me wrong, the construction industry has a massive task in front of them. Clearly designing economically is not good enough nowadays. So we all have our green stamps at the ready; STAMP! Automated, super-pod designed, interchangeable, recyclable materials costing our clients many more thousands of pounds to utilise and construct thier buildings.

Designing economically should be our first and foremost concern. We still have plenty of carbon and economic savings to be had, just there.

What's my contribution to green technologies? I design economically for practical construction and installation, questioning serviceability limits whenever I feel that I can, and I am currently making leaps and bounds towards achieving a paperless office. No applause please. Every little helps.

I have skimmed the EngineeringUK document so far, and have therefore formed a summarised appreciation of the findings. I'm sure there are some hidden gems in there, which I will be exposing over the next few weeks.

My initial thoughts are that we are placing a high level of importance in the following aspects [strategic goals included]:

• Engaging with and courting world leaders, politicians, and hard hitting industry generals. Why? A unified message needs to be delivered.

• What's the message? Push harder. Go in that direction over there. Be better, think more and achieve more. I know what you are thinking... because I'm an engineer too. Isn't that all a bit vague?! We are required to translate the meaning of these high level orders and condense them into a proper battlefield strategy. Micro businesses to multi national engineering powerhouses, we deserve better than that, don't we?

• Education. Get'em young. Spread the word. I am trying hard not to look confused and quizzical as I write this, as is this not code for placing all our eggs in one basket? Invite more recruits into a system that has not changed for years... even I can be more creative than that. I'll show you too.

• Raise the threshold level of theoretical knowledge in university education. This is great, but isn't the industry is crying out for experienced engineers to help them succeed, in an industry [world] writhing with financial and technological challenges.

I need to share some more of my vision with you.

As from today, I'm searching. Searching for a civil engineering graduate [bias in structural engineering - buildings], or a student currently in their final year. I cannot specify exactly what I am looking for yet, but I will know in 5 minutes of meeting them [or indeed reading their CV's] that they are right person for the job.

Paradoxically though, below is a short list of the qualities I'll be looking for:

1. Tech savvy.
2. Outgoing, and interesting to chat to. Hungry for growth.
3. Able to demonstrate practical aptitude as well as theoretical mastery.
4. Wishes to own their own business in the future.
5. Kick-ass hard working attitude and willing to demonstrate that.
6. A sports person. Don't ask me why, but sports people have a certain something about them. They are competitive and tenacious. We need that. 

That's it.

Together we will embark upon securing you 18 months worth of industry beating engineering experience, setting standards to allow others to follow in your footsteps, and build an enviable CV as a result. Thus setting you up for your illustrious tour of duty with the heavy engineering giants [you pick one]. You will quickly move up the ranks, doing a full circle and eventually become your own boss, and industrious leader in your own right.

This is not a normal employment opportunity. It does not come with promises of a comfortable 18 months of engineering servitude. It does however come with a vision.

If you believe that doing something different and pushing the industry in a way that it has never experienced is a worthy cause...then you have simply got to contact me.

"Anything worth having, is worth working for" Andrew Carnegie.

So where does the Concrete Angel thing come in? Well to be regarded as an angel in business you are expected to invest time and [mainly] money to help a chosen businesses to fulfil their dreams.

In this case, the structural engineers engaged to help you on your way to building your career will also be investing both time and money... and that makes them Concrete Angels.

I look forward to the applications. Email me on glen@avatar-engineering.co.uk


Engine[er]