Blane Judd, the former group chief executive of the Building & Engineering Services Association, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of EngTechNow.
EngTechNow is a campaign focused on raising awareness of the importance of engineering technicians to the economy and daily life, it aims to encourage the registration of 100,000 engineering technicians by 2020. The campaign was first launched by Prime Minister David Cameron in June 2013.
EngTechNow is a joint project between the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), in conjunction with the Engineering Council. It is supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and championed by Lord Sainsbury.
Blane Judd BEng FCGI CEng FIET FCIBSE FInstLM said:
“I am thrilled to be starting as CEO of EngTechNow at such an exciting time for the campaign. “Engineering technicians (EngTechs) are at the core of every engineering project and are the people with the expertise to turn great engineering ideas into reality.
“EngTechs are critical to the UK economy and it is encouraging to see Government and industry increasingly seeing the value of the internationally recognised standard of engineering skills and experience professional registration provides.
“I am looking forward to promoting the hugely important contribution that engineering technicians make in all aspects of engineering and boosting the number of employers willing to support their staff in taking up the opportunity presented by EngTech registration.”
Stephen Tetlow MBE, chief executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:
“It is great to have a person with as much experience and passion for engineering as Blane joining this exciting campaign.
“Engineering skills are at the very heart of a healthy economy, and it’s great to see professional engineering institutions working together to ensure the UK develops these vital skills.
“Boosting the number of registered EngTechs in the UK will help ensure the country has the skills needed to build a strong and vibrant engineering industry.”
Nick Baveystock, ICE director general, said:
“This is a critical time for EngTechNow and I am delighted that Blane Judd will be at the helm to drive this campaign and take it to the next level. Blane, through his experience in the sector, is well placed to increase awareness to employers that those coming through vocational and apprenticeship routes can also achieve a professional qualification, and ultimately boost the status of those who form such a vital part of the engineering skills mix.”
Nigel Fine, IET chief executive, said:
“Strong leadership is required to achieve the challenging targets to register 100,000 engineering technicians by 2020. Blane is an experienced leader who is highly committed to the professional development of engineering technicians and I am delighted that he will be taking the helm at the EngTechNow campaign.”
Blane Judd was most recently executive director at BLTK Consulting providing strategic support to clients including ILM, City & Guilds and the Institute of Technology in Norway. He was previously group chief executive of the Building & Engineering Services Association, a trade association and employers’ organisation for the building engineering services sector with a membership of 1400 companies.
Blane is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of City & Guilds, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Institute of Leadership and Management, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, Royal Institution, Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
In March, as part of the EngTechNow campaign, the construction project Crossrail, global defence company BAE Systems, civil engineering contractors Bam Nuttall, engineering and project management consultants Atkins and engineering, IT and facilities firm NG Bailey, all committed to increase the number of EngTechs in their own workforce.
