Engineers rated as one of Britain’s top five most trusted professions
05/02/2024
The Engineering Council was pleased to see that the engineering profession is one of the most trusted in Great Britain according to the latest Ipsos Veracity Index, which revealed that 85% of people across the country trust engineers to tell the truth.
The 2023 poll found engineers to be level with doctors, in fourth place, only eclipsed by librarians (86%), airplane pilots (87%) and nurses (88%). Similar levels of trust in engineers have been recorded in previous years, including a score of 89% in 2020.
As the engineering regulatory body, this is welcome news to the Engineering Council, the purpose of which is to ensure that employers, government and wider society, both in the UK and overseas, can have confidence and trust in the knowledge, experience and commitment of engineers and technicians, which it does through setting and maintaining internationally recognised standards of professional competence, commitment and ethics.
Professionally registered engineers and technicians are required to maintain and promote high ethical standards in their work and to challenge unethical behaviour. The four fundamental principles for ethical behaviour and decision-making are outlined in a Statement of Ethical Principles, jointly produced by the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).
Paul Bailey, Engineering Council Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is great to see engineers maintaining their high ranking on the 2023 Ipsos Veracity Index as one of the most trusted professions among the British public. Such a high level of trust in engineers is primarily down to their high level of professionalism, which is exemplified by professional registration with the Engineering Council, a means of providing that assurance of competence and a continuing commitment to professionally develop.”
The 2023 Ipsos Veracity Index showed that engineers were more trusted by females (86% compared to 85% of males) and by those earning a higher salary (90% of those earning above £50,000 compared to 80% of those earning under £25,000). The index also suggested a higher level of distrust among younger people and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has suggested that this is possibly related to limited understanding and knowledge of engineering as a profession.
Although it is regarded as an important and rewarding career, recent research commissioned by the RAEng revealed that many people do not know much about what those in engineering do or what the job involves. The Royal Academy of Engineering’s survey into the public’s perception of engineering and the reasons why many young people choose not to take up engineering courses or careers found that outdated perceptions of engineering as a profession is a key obstacle to young people enrolling in engineering
courses.
To help raise public awareness of how engineers make a difference in the world, celebrate how engineers shape the future and encourage more young people from all backgrounds to consider engineering careers, RAEng, in partnership with EngineeringUK, has, over the past few years, led an annual National Engineering Day campaign.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology has also driven awareness campaigns, such as Engineer a Better World, and the recent Young Woman of the Year Awards, which aim to change people’s perceptions of engineering.
