THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS 1913–1988
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb057529 |
| Published date | 01 November 1988 |
| Pages | 23-24 |
| Date | 01 November 1988 |
| Author | C.M. Mitchell |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
THE
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING
ENGINEERS 1913-1988
by
C.M.
Mitchell
Association of Consulting Engineers
The Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE) was incorporated in 1913 when it began life with a membership
of 80. Now 75 years later and with a Membership of some 1,300 it has come to be recognised as the principal
consulting engineering body in the country, responsible for major works both in the United Kingdom and,
equally importantly, overseas where its achievements in the sphere of UK invisible exports have made and
continues to make a considerable contribution to our national balance of payments.
The objective of the Association outlined in 1912
included that of "bringing together in one body for their
mutual assistance all fully qualified engineers who
practised in a purely professional capacity and were
willing to be bound at all times by a strict code of
professional rules". A second objective was to provide
for the information of the public a list of independent
engineers who were not directly or indirectly connected
with any commercial or manufacturing interests. Their
exercise of independent professional judgement in the
matters upon which they were called to advise would
thus be ensured.
Articles of Association were drawn up which defined
the consulting engineer as "a person possessing the
necessary qualifications to practise in one or more of
the various branches of engineering who devotes
himself to advising the public on engineering matters
or to designing and supervising the construction of
engineering works and for such purposes occupies and
employs his own office and staff and is not directly or
indirectly concerned or interested in commercial or
manufacturing interests such as would tend to influence
his exercise of independent professional judgement in
the matters upon which he advises".
This definition remains unchanged and engineers may
only become members of the Association if they fulfil
these conditions. The Articles also ensure that members
can be elected only if they are in practice as consulting
engineers, are of such standing as in the opinion of the
council to merit their admission to the Association and
are Fellows of at least one of a number of specified
Engineering Institutions. Although the list of qualifying
Institutions has been considerably increased recently,
the code of ethics and practice remains the same.
During the 75 years, members of the Association have
established a reputation throughout the world, not only
for their competence but also for impartiality, integrity
and fairmindedness to client and contractor alike. This
reputation for knowledge, technical proficiency and high
professional integrity has been advanced until it is
second to none in the world. Competition from foreign
consultants has inevitably grown keener over the years
but the pre-eminence of the British engineer remains.
At home there are few fields of activity where the British
consulting engineer has not participated, for example
in roads, bridges, industrial plant, office buildings and
waterworks. Overseas the same fields provide valuable
opportunities for all sections of the British engineering
industry by promoting the adoption of British practices
and standards. In 1987 the income returned to this
country in the form of professional fees (about 60 per
cent of the total British consulting engineering effort)
was £420 million — a figure which contributed greatly
to our invisible exports and hence to the balance of
payments. Furthermore, the assessed value of those
overseas projects on which British manufacturing and
constructional firms were employed was £32,000
million.
It is recognised that members of the Association
will continue to have a key role to play in the developing
countries whose needs continue to present a
compelling challenge to the free world.
The need on the one hand to publicise itself within the
constraints of what is professionally acceptable and on
the other, to persuade clients both of the advantages
of employing independent consulting engineers and of
the dangers in selecting a consulting engineer on the
basis of a price rather than proven suitability, together
with the wish to fulfil its professional obligations to the
discipline of engineering, has led the Association to
participate in a wide range of activities. Thus its
members are to be found within the membership of the
Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Conseils
(FIDIC) through which influence is brought to bear on
the international lending agencies, and the British
Consultants Bureau which maintains contact with those
Government Departments most closely involved with
exports of goods and services (ODA, DTI) and through
which,
too, relations are maintained with the European
Development Fund. More directly, committees of the
association meet regularly with members of those
Departments of Government which commission
Consulting Engineers on the design and construction
of public works of all types to agree on standard
IMDS
November/December
1988
23
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