Registration of Ground Engineering Professionals
The UK Register of Ground Engineering Professionals (RoGEP) provides external stakeholders, including clients and other professionals, with a means to identify individuals who are suitably qualified and competent in ground engineering.
RoGEP Registrants must have an appreciation of other disciplines and interests that extend beyond, but interface with, ground engineering. They must be able to demonstrate how ground engineering interacts with other technical professions.
For further information, to make an application, or to see a list of current Members, visit www.ukrogep.org.uk
Shortage of Ground Engineering Professionals
Job titles relating to Ground Engineering were first added to the Home Office Shortage Occupation List (SOL) in 2004 . In 2008 in the Government introduced the Points Based System for the issue of Work Permits and the Migration and Advisory Committee (MAC) was set up to advise Government on this and related issues. A full review of the SOL was conducted but Ground Engineering job titles remained on the list and continued to be on it despite a further review in 2009 (as a result of which Civil Engineers were removed).
In 2010, the Government announced its intention to reduce immigration from non-EU countries, including a reduction in the number of work permits that would be issued under the Points Based System. Job titles on the SOL are now given priority when work permit applications are assessed and there may be times when permits are issued ONLY for SOL job titles. A further review of the SOL was undertaken in 2011 and The Ground Forum provided evidence to the MAC relating to the shortage of experienced Ground Engineering Professionals (Engineering Geologists, Geotechnical Engineers, Tunnelling Engineers and Contaminated Land Specialists).
As a result the following job titles currently appear on the Shortage Occupation List:-
Occupation Code 2121 Civil Engineers:
Geotechnical engineers; geotechnical design engineer; geotechnical specialist; reservoir panel engineer; rock mechanics engineer; soil mechanics engineer; geomechanics engineer; tunnelling engineer; (and a number relating to the petroleum industry).
(Note: Civil Engineers do NOT currently appear on the SOL)
Occupation Code 2113 Physicists, geologists and meteorologists:
Hydrogeologist; geophysicist; geoscientist; geophysical specialist; engineering geophysicist; engineering geomorphologist; geologist; geochemist; environmental scientist.
(Note: Due to a misunderstanding, Engineering Geologist does not appear on the list. This may be rectified in due course but in the meantime, work permit applications for engineering geologists should be made using one of the above job titles.)
Is There Sufficient Geotechnical or Engineering Geology in MEng Courses?
Government Support
The UK already suffers from a shortage of Ground Engineers and yet the funding for a key element of their training is being reduced or eliminated. This position paper explains why Ground Forum believes that the Government should reconsider its current policy towards post-graduate training. |
