North East engineers invest in new ICE training

North East civil and structural engineering firm RWO Associates is investing in a new training initiative to fast track the professional development of its workforce.

The move follows approval by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to allow the Seaton Burn-based firm to deliver the ICE Training Scheme across its engineering teams, who are based at offices in Newcastle and Leeds.

RWO Associates will become one of a small number of engineering SMEs in the region now able to deliver the training to other employers and include as part of a package of incentives to attract new staff.

The programme lays out the competencies required for people to complete the initial professional development (IPD) stage as part of their path to becoming professionally qualified engineers. At RWO Associates, the first phase of the training programme will see the roll out to support the development of new and existing staff.

The firm, which currently employs 17 people, is targeting more than £2 million turnover in the next 12 months as it continues to invest in resources to support growth and new business development.

RWO director Martin Heddon (pictured) said: “After I gained Chartership more than ten years ago through a similar training scheme, it’s great news that we have received the green light from ICE to become an approved employer.

“We’re investing to ensure that our team of engineers are equipped with the necessary professional skills and knowledge to deliver the highest standards of client service.”

RWO Associates specialises in a range of work including flood risk assessments, residential, commercial, industrial and leisure structural engineering. Civil engineering services cover road design, drainage, external works and SuDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage).