About this episode
The episode discusses the barriers to pursuing chartership and the importance of professional standards in various industries.
Chartership plays a central role in upholding professional standards, but what does it mean in practice today - and what stops people from pursuing it? In this discussion, our Director of Membership & Professional Standards Paul Skerry (CEng FICE FCInstCES FIMMM) talks to Sarah West (Head of Engagement & Policy, Science Council), Phil Underwood (CMktr, Engagement Manager, Society for the Environment), and Lucy Byrne (Professional Standards Manager, Engineering Council). They explore the real barriers individuals face on the path to professional registration, from misconceptions about qualifications and career routes to a lack of confidence, inconsistent support, and the complexities of working across multiple organisations. The conversation also looks at how mentors can better support candidates, how institutions can open clearer pathways for those without traditional academic backgrounds, and where messaging should focus: personal benefits, professional values, or public responsibility. Against the backdrop of public failures such as Horizon and Grenfell, the speakers reflect on the relevance of codes of conduct, whistleblowing, HRB requirements and the growing emphasis on…
People in this episode
Guests: Sarah West, Phil Underwood, Lucy Byrne
Topics covered
- Chartership
- Professional Standards
- Mentorship
- Career Development
- Accountability
Keywords
- misconceptions
- qualifications
- support
- industrial strategy
- public responsibility
More episodes of IOM3 Investigates
- IOM3 Investigates...the art of Viva Talbot with Dr Joan Heggie · March 26, 2026 · 1h 5m
- IOM3 Investigates...AI in Ground Engineering · January 29, 2026 · 57 min
- IOM3 Investigates...Ed Conway at M3P3: Material World · December 22, 2025 · 42 min
- IOM3 Investigates...Future Mining · November 10, 2025 · 1h 19m
- IOM3 Investigates...Pathways for Science Technicians · November 6, 2025 · 40 min
- IOM3 Investigates...Rewind: The Environment. Part 1 - Sustainable Packaging · October 23, 2025 · 11 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the IOM3 Investigates podcast page.