Claire Christey MSc IEng MWeldI is a Team Leader within Port Engineering at the Shetland Islands Council. She has achieved her MSc in Mechanical Engineering and BEng (hons) in Mechanical and Energy Engineering, both from the University of the Highlands and Islands.

She talks us through her career in engineering, her Membership as well as Professional Registration.

About You

When did you join The Welding Institute?

I joined the Welding institute as a student member in 2018 and achieved Incorporated Engineer in 2020.

Please describe your current job role and responsibilities/a typical day in your role:

In my current role I have line management responsibility for a team of senior technical engineers, electrical and marine engineers and responsibility for the maintenance of all the Councils marine fixed assets, ranging from navigation buoys to the Sullom Voe Terminal Oil Export Jettys.

A typical day is highly varied and can involve anything from onsite inspections and surveys at some of the UK’s most remote sites, many of which can only be accessed by ATV or boat to preparation of tender documents and specifications for contracts.

Intro to you and your career in engineering

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

I love the variety of engineering, especially in the marine sector.  I gain an immense amount of satisfaction from fixing things or coming up with improvements.

Early Professional Membership

Tell us a bit about the process of becoming a Member of The Welding Institute.

I joined the Welding Institute as a student Member in 2018 whilst I was undertaking my bachelors degree and working for a local engineering and fabrication company.  Once I had passed my degree, I submitted my application and engineering council competence mapping and after passing my interview, I was awarded Incorporated Engineer in 2020.

Professional Membership and Registration: IEng

When and why did you choose to become professionally registered?

I chose to become professionally registered as soon as I had completed my BEng (hons) and was eligible for professional registration.  Professional registration was important to me, being in a remote and isolated location means that the support of an organisation such as The Welding Institute provides resources that otherwise would not be available.

What was the most difficult aspect of becoming registered as IEng and how did you overcome it?

I find talking about myself particularly challenging and so the interview aspect was hard for me.  I focused what I have done through my career and the interviewers were really good at asking questions that helped me to open up.

Current Membership

Which membership benefits do you use the most and find the most helpful and why?

Access to webinars and other online training opportunities are invaluable for maintaining my CPD and keeping up to date with latest developments.

Future (Membership and Career)

What are your engineering aspirations? 

I am currently preparing my competence mapping for CEng and hope to submit and achieve that this later this year.

Would you recommend Membership with The Welding Institute and why?

Yes I would recommend membership, the support is excellent and access to resources has meant that I can progress in my career.