Press releases
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The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) urges Home Secretary Ruth Kelly to rethink the decision to reject proposals to introduce significantly longer and heavier goods vehicles onto British roads. With six decades of experience within the road transport industry, SOE is committed to developing the careers of it’s members in addition to championing industry best-practice.

Technicians awarded for excellence

IRTE and IMI to collaborate on development of irtec Licensing Scheme

IRTE launches crucial guide to tachograph compliance

Over 40 front line Tube maintenance staff have been awarded NVQ level 3 Engineering Technician qualifications approved by the respected Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) – the first in the rail industry to achieve this recognition.

This year’s CV Show is set to be a record breaker and the IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) is offering visitors more than ever.

Plant Engineers have a new best friend today, as IPlantE (Institution of Plant Engineers) launches a free directory for those who source, specify and purchase plant equipment and associated services.

The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) is hosting a stand at Infrarail 2008, offering rail apprentices and employees with NVQ Level-3 qualifications a direct route to professional recognition.

Apprenticeship providers and Careers Advisors invited to free event

Manchester College of Art and Technology are piloting new bus and coach tests in association with First Group. The public transport giant will send a selection of technicians from their 2,000 strong workforce to take the irtec competency assessments, developed by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE).

In early January the Engineering Council UK (ECUK) announced its annual professional registration results, and for the second year running, SOE has topped the charts.

The IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), a professional sector of SOE, is launching a new membership structure that will open the organisation’s benefits to more people working within the road transport profession.

SOE IPlantE hosts London’s Cooling the Tube 2007 3 October 2007 6.30pm-9pm City University, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB

The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), a leading membership organisation for engineers in the road transport, plant and engineer surveying industries, officially appointed Nick Jones as its Chief Executive on 18 September 2007.

Professional Witness Training for engineers – 13 & 14 November 2007, London.

3 October 2007 6.30pm-9pm City University, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB

In today’s lawsuit-friendly world, it is vital that engineers understand the need for high professional standards in all aspects of their everyday practice. The SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), a membership organisation for engineers, is holding a professional witness training course in November, to provide attendees with the foundation to reinforce their work in a legal environment.

Britain has an ageing population and a great many of the key roles that maintain our way of life (plant, utility, civil and transport engineers) are filled by men and women who will be retiring in the next couple of decades – with only 50 per cent of 2005’s employed engineering graduates choosing to work as professional engineers (the rest becoming teachers, managers, etc), the UK may soon be facing a serious employment crisis with skilled labour needing to be imported from elsewhere.

For immediate release. Hi-res images available (not included due to size – please request). pressoffice@soe.org.uk or call 0207 630 1111. Alternatively, call me on 07948 630 150 if I am not at my desk. • Chris Grime will be at the SOE’s AGM today but will be available for comment from tomorrow morning. Please call me to arrange this. Chris Grime, Principal Fleet Engineer with Lancashire County Council’s Engineering Services, today (28 June) took over as Chair of the IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) – the leading voice for the road transport industry and a professional sector of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).

For membership organisations, the Membership Development Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars. Recognising the best talent and highest achievements within the industry –the SOE has just received (on the 28 June) an award for its work in recruiting members from the Armed Forces.

Free IRTE event offers win-win situation for the transport industry. First in a series of national events 19 September – Tortworth Court, Bristol

For immediate use – 25 May 2007. Hi-res images available (not included due to size – please request). pressoffice@soe.org.uk or call 0207 630 1111.

Brunel, Frank Whittle, Alan Turing, Tim Berners-Lee, Nigel Gresley, Henry Bessemer – Britain can boast some of the best-known engineers as its own. But how many great engineers do we have today?

New law means; • Drink drivers could be forced to retake their test • Non-UK drivers can be fined on the spot for minor legal infringements • "One-size-fits-all" driving instructors dropped in favour of new training schemes targeted at different vehicle types including lorries, buses and off-road.

•Free guide helps operators know their legal responsibilities After nearly a decade, the legislation and regulations affecting lifting equipment still remain a mystery to many in the vehicle industry. To combat this, and in response to a call from the industry, the IRTE and BES – two of the SOE’s professional sectors – have launched a new booklet aimed at explaining the legislation in simple and easy to understand terms.

A new survey by the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), and its professional sector the IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), indicates that Bristol is the leading engineering city in the UK. Having been named as a Science City by the British government this year, while also hosting the Brunel 200 celebrations, it is great to see the city’s engineering heritage being maintained into the twenty first century.

The first issue of the irtec Insider – the newsletter for those who’ve been through or have an interest in the irtec licensing scheme – will be published this week.

Designed to help both individuals and companies achieve their potential, the Skills Zone is a key stop for anyone visiting the Commercial Vehicle Show (CV Show) this year. It will run alongside the Show from 24-26 April in the NEC Birmingham’s Hall 2.

The SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) is proud to announce that it is sponsoring the Rail Engineer of the Year award at the first ever Railstaff Awards. The sponsorship will be through the SOE’s Professional Sector, the IPlantE (Institution of Plant Engineers).

18 April 2007 Time: 6.30 – 9.00pm Venue: De Vere Hotel, Daresbury Park, Warrington

ARE WE ON TARGET FOR MEETING OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY OBJECTIVES? • Free technical seminar from the SOE IPlantE • 8 March 2007, 6.30-9pm. Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham, DH1 1TD • PRESS PLACES AVAILABLE.

ARSENAL’S Emirates stadium hosted a premiership force in January when the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) presented several Metronet professionals with certificates proving their registration with the Engineering Council (ECuk).

Metronet, the company responsible for the renewal of two-thirds of London’s Underground, has asked the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) to accredit its engineers for entry into the ECuk (Engineering Council UK).

•The IRTE hosted a free event on 28 November 2006 from 9.30am to 4pm

•The demonstration of LHVs was featured on ITV Central and will feature on future broadcasts of the BBC Politics Show and Channel 4 News.

•1 December 2006 at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel
•Sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
•Champagne reception from 7pm
•90 per cent of the tables have already been booked
•Last chance this year to rub shoulders with the biggest players in the road transport industry – from MPs to business directors.

Then take part in our debate; ‘IS THERE A CASE FOR LARGER VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS?

Bouncers, farriers and even hairdressers who tint your hair have to be licensed to operate in the UK but road transport maintenance providers – the people who look after our buses and trucks – don’t have to be. But, during a recent IRTE event, representatives from UK’s road transport industry were unanimous in declaring a desire for regulation.

- The IRTE hosts a FREE open forum on 26 October 2006 - Barton Grange Hotel, Preston, registration is at 1:30 pm for a 2 pm kick off. REGULATION, regulation, regulation – it’s difficult to get away from it in the modern world but there is one such place within the road transport sector – the repair and maintenance of large commercial vehicles.

5 September 2006, Imperial College London The Mayor of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Proposal claims to be one of the most effective ways of reducing the level of vehicle emissions in the capital. But what will be the true cost to industry and how will it operate efficiently?

2006 Presidential Address on 'The public image of engineering' by the newly-installed SOE President John Childs IEng, FBES. Skinners' Hall London

John Childs takes the helm at SOE and gives his Presidential Address on the ‘Public image of engineering'.

SOE Annual Conference 2006 – Fuel, Emissions and the Environment – Sustaining the Future

The Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) has re-launched its irtec licensing scheme at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show. The irtec scheme, now in its forth year, will incorporate a new framework to provide greater flexibility and meet the changing needs of the road transport industry.

The danger of coupling and uncoupling of large commercial vehicles has become greater in recent years with the introduction of close coupling techniques; this is generally recognised throughout the industry.

The IRTE Council is aware that there has been considerable debate with engine manufacturers regarding the introduction of Euro 4 in October 2006.

The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) will announce a new governance structure at its AGM and Presidential Address on Thursday 23 June.

Traffic Commissioner urges operators to use the new best practice guide

SOE Annual Conference 2005 – ‘The Skills Shortage – Engineering a Solution’

SOE’s IPlantE Professional Sector to host Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) seminar on 10 May 2005 in Birmingham.

With the Commercial Vehicle Show (CV Show) just two weeks away, the Skills Centre in Hall 10 looks set to be a hub of activity for those interested in career development in the automotive, road transport and logistics sectors.

SOE IRTE to host Driver Training in Modern Fleet Operations seminar on 27 April Whether a fleet operation is well-managed or not depends on many factors. But how important is driver training? Does it equip drivers with the necessary maintenance, safety and fuel economy expertise; or is it a time-consuming and unnecessary expense?

Plans announced in the 2005 budget, which aim to support young people in improving their skills and raise the reputation of the apprenticeship route into industry, are strongly supported by the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).

The key to meeting the world’s immediate energy and environmental needs lies not in new wind, wave and solar power installations, but in existing technologies that are available now.

The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), whose IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) Professional Sector runs the IRTEC Licensing Scheme for mechanics and technicians, welcomed the reading of a Bill in parliament (17 November 2004) calling for regulation of the vehicle servicing industry.

How comprehensive is your maintenance strategy? Are you confident that your maintenance processes meet industry best practice?

IRTE to host Road Transport Regulators Forum on 24 November 2004

Falls from car transporters, particularly from the upper decks, continue to occur and often result in serious injuries and, sometimes, fatalities.