As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’re highlighting the contributions of the volunteers who support The Welding Institute and the wider welding and engineering community.

In this interview, we caught up with Chris Eady, MERC member and Training, Qualification and Quality Technical Group (TG9) Co-Chair. Chris shares insight into his role on MERC, the wider impact of its work on the engineering profession, and his experience as a Technical Group Co‑Chair and the benefits it brings.

Can you describe your volunteer role with The Welding Institute and the types of activities you’re involved in?

At present, I contribute to The Welding Institute’s Membership Education and Registration Committee (MERC), which operates the assessment and approval of applicants for recognition as Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer in the Engineering Council register and for membership of the Institute as Technician, Member and Fellow. On behalf of MERC, I chair the Welder Grade Working Group, in which a smaller group of enthusiastic and knowledgeable Professional Members are working to define membership benefits for welders, as a new Professional Membership service. I also Co-Chair the Technical Group 9, which focuses continuing professional development delivery onto Professional Member interests in Training, Qualification and Quality.

How does your volunteer work support the welding and engineering community?

Contributing to MERC directly supports the profession, as peer review and recognition is at the heart of professional engineering competence and commitment in the UK and amongst Engineering Council registrants worldwide. MERC is also at the centre of innovation and change management to accommodate new and emerging technologies and job roles into the profession and to account for new approaches to technical education and training. As an example, I recently contributed to an Engineering Council workshop focused on engineering ethics and professional behaviours as part of the next revision of the UK-SPEC registration standard.

How has volunteering connected you with other professionals in the industry?

The volunteer community comes from a broad cross-section of the Institute Membership and the Profession. Attending meetings and events not only renews acquaintances but creates new relationships with professionals from a wide range of job roles across all engineering and manufacturing sectors and applications. The TG9 events enable me to meet Professional Members and non-members who are not in the volunteer community and to learn about their priorities and challenges so that we can consider how best to support their professional development and career progression through future events and improved services.

What do you find most rewarding about giving your time and expertise?

It is most rewarding to hear from a Professional Member how something I have contributed to has benefited their career, whether that was simply a connection to another Professional Member, an additional qualification, higher recognition, or something as massive as gaining a new role.

Would you encourage others to volunteer with The Welding Institute, and why?

The Welding Institute is its Professional Members, and the peer review and recognition process provides public confidence, ethical direction, professional recognition and a huge support network to the best, most committed and most professional engineers and technicians. The way to make more of that happen is to volunteer with The Welding Institute.

The Welding Institute would like to thank Chris for his outstanding volunteering work and for sharing his insights on the importance and impact that volunteering has within our community.

If you’re interested in getting involved, you can find out more here.