IEE and IIE members vote to merge

The Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers have announced that members of both organisations have voted to create a new joint institution. The organisation, named the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) will come into being in 2006, following approval by the Privy Council.

Once formed, the IET will have the largest number of professionally registered engineers and engineering technicians in the UK: the IEE has 120 000 members worldwide and the IIE has 40 000. Some 73·5% of IEE members voted in favour of the merger, while an overwhelming 95·7% of IIE members voted for the change.

Professor John O’Reilly, president of the IEE, welcomed the merger, saying: “This is an historic step for both institutions. Members have shown themselves ready to embrace the future and ensure that institutions that have served decades of engineers remain relevant in the 21st Century.

“Engineering is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and global and it is important that institutions reflect the way in which their members operate.”

Lord Trefgarne, president of the IIE, echoed these sentiments, saying: “The engineering profession has for too long been fragmented and undervalued. By bringing together all key members of the technical team, whatever their professional status, IET holds out the hope of creating a more coherent and representative organisation for our profession.

“The new institution will be better attuned to meet the needs of its members, of employers who need well qualified staff, and of wider society which benefits from the products and services underpinned by our collective efforts.”

Science and innovation minister Lord Sainsbury also commented on the merger: “This is excellent news. The new multidisciplinary, international and inclusive body will be better able to serve its members’ interests and be fit for purpose in the 21st Century.”