Matt Fowler achieves his Chartership in Engineering with IMechE
At CAN we ensure that our employees are reaching their full potential, so we invest in their professional development by offering memberships to a range of professional bodies such as APM, CIMA, CIPD, IET, IMechE and NI. Being a part of a professional membership provides our employees with the opportunity to network with like-minded people, have access to industry resources, gain mentorship and career guidance and achieve professional recognition and credibility.
Congratulations to Matt Fowler, one of our Engineering Managers who recently achieved his Chartership in Engineering with IMechE! This achievement is a testament to Matt’s hard work, dedication to continued professional development, and personal growth as an engineer. We are extremely proud of Matt’s progression at CAN and look forward to seeing him continue to grow.
We asked Matt a few questions about his chartership and the importance of being a part of a membership body like IMechE…
Why is being a part of a professional membership so important and how was it helped you in your job role?
In October 2024, I became a Chartered Engineer, achieving full membership of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), having previously been an associate member since 2014. Maintaining this professional membership is important to both my professional development and career aspirations for several reasons:
Access to Knowledge and Best Practices – The IMechE provides access to the latest research, case studies, and industry best practices. This is particularly valuable for staying on top of innovative technologies, methodologies, and regulatory changes. As an Engineering Manager these resources help me understand emerging trends in engineering processes, tools, and leadership approaches, allowing me to implement strategies that will increase engineering throughput, quality, and efficiency.
Networking and Collaboration – Professional membership of an organisation such as the IMechE grants access to networking events both in London and across the various regions of the UK. These events provide an excellent opportunity to meet with and learn from fellow professionals, which ultimately leads to new connections and collaborations that you would otherwise miss out on.
Career Development and Growth – Membership of a professional organisation offers access to certifications, training programs, and workshops that help you stay current with technical skills as well as leadership capabilities. For example, the IMechE supported me through the application process to becoming Chartered, which has boosted my career and coincided with a promotion into Engineering Manager.
Advocacy and Credibility – Being affiliated with a respected professional body lends credibility to your work and signals to stakeholders that you are committed to maintaining high standards. It also provides a collective voice for advocating for the engineering profession and influencing policy changes.
Staying Motivated and Inspired – Lastly, being part of a community of like-minded professionals helps to foster a sense of belonging and purpose. It provides ongoing motivation to push the boundaries of what is possible in both engineering practice and leadership. This is particularly relevant to the current phase of my career as I am now looking to give back to the community by volunteering at events that shaped my education, such as Formula Student UK, to try and inspire the next generation.
Please share your experiences of becoming a chartered engineer
Becoming a Chartered Engineer is a lengthy process, there’s no two ways about that!
In my experience, the key to achieving Chartered status is consistent and experienced mentorship, whether that be via a colleague or a regional IMechE outreach officer. I was incredibly lucky in the fact that I benefited from both; firstly, from the professional development scheme at Cyclife Aquila Nuclear and secondly from Steve Acott at the IMechE.
While the application process is long and the application itself is tricky to write at times, the sense of satisfaction once completed was incredible; I would highly recommend pursuing CEng/IEng/EngTech if that is something that is relevant to your career.
