Category Archives: professional review

EXCELLENT FEEDBACK FROM MOCK ICE PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS

The Spring 2018 sessions of the ICE Professional Reviews are well underway now, and we are very pleased to have played our part. Our inputs began in February and March, during which time we undertook numerous mock interview courses for both individuals and companies.  These were typically full day events which began with a discussion on the review process that gave the candidates a reviewers perspective of what is needed and how we use their reports.  Most of the day was spent though giving each candidate a mock interview based on their draft professional review report, in front of colleagues so they could all learn from each other and share their experiences after.  The aim of the interviews was to give the candidates a feel for what to expect on the day and help them understand better the type and style of questioning they are likely to get.  Each session was run by our Dr Andy Goodwin, who is a very experienced ICE reviewer. Though it sounds daunting, the sessions were all run in a constructive, supportive atmosphere and everyone seemed to take a lot of benefit from them.  Certainly the feedback was excellent from the 17 candidates we worked with, with 98% of a breadth of course measures being rated either excellent or very good.  We could not ask for much more, and we know our clients value our inputs as we are regularly asked back to support their next cohort of candidates. We wish all candidates all the very best with their professional reviews, and hope to hear of their success in due course.

AUTUMN COURSES FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY

Over recent months we have delivered three bespoke half-day courses for a large local authority:
  • Fundamentals of Soil Slope Stability
  • Fundamentals of Contaminated Land Assessment
  • Introduction to Structural Steelwork Design to EC3
Feedback from all three courses was excellent, and showed how full day day courses could be adapted to half day formats cost-effectively for small groups.  Building on this success, we have been asked to look at two additional topics too. If you feel your organisation would benefit from a short course or series of half day courses, then just call us to discuss your requirements and see how we could help you.

COURSES TO MARCH 2018

The start of 2018 includes a large number of bespoke courses, which continues the trend from 2017.  We are naturally running a range of open courses too, and those coming up in the first quarter of 2018 include recommendations for candidates preparing for their ICE professional review.  Courses currently scheduled include:
  • Contractual Awareness, on 13 February
  • The ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Interview (maximum of 4 delegates), on 22 February
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice, on 27 February
  • Introduction to Geotechnical Design to Eurocode 7, on 13 March
  • Earthworks – Principles and Practice, on 20 March
  • Ground Investigation Design to EC7 – The Essentials (half day course), on 22 March
In addition to these standard day courses, we have our inaugural Design Programme on Shallow Foundations and Settlements.  This programme of 6 evening  courses allows delegates to explore the subject matter in more depth than possible during a typical day course. All courses are running in Chesterfield.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course. Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.  

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW PREPARATION COURSES

We are often asked what courses we recommend for those preparing for their professional review with the Institution of Civil Engineers.  The answer is it depends on the delegate, as each candidate has a different range of experience and different strengths / weaknesses.  We have a range of courses available that address aspects of the professional review, and other that address common areas of weakness at review such as management and contracts.  A summary of the courses we commonly suggest to candidates may be found here.  If any course is of interest then please contact us for details and / or to make a booking.

ANOTHER MOCK INTERVIEW COURSE COMMISSIONED

Following successful support and assistance provided in recent years, Dr Andy Goodwin of Surepath Training is very pleased to announce that the company has been commissioned once more by an SME in Cheadle to run a mock interview course for several graduates who are pursuing a professional qualification in the Spring 2018 review sessions with the ICE.   Appointed for just one course initially, there is a possibility of a second course being commissioned too depending on graduate progress. The course builds on the 100% success rate from past courses with the same SME, and Andy is very much looking forward to working with the team once again.   If you have a group of people needing training in this or any other skill area then contact Andy to discuss how he may be able to design a course / mentoring programme to suit your needs and add value to your service provision.

MORE BESPOKE MOCK INTERVIEW COURSES COMMISSIONED

Surepath Training has had their commission from a large multi-national consultancy further extended to run mock interview courses for their graduates pursuing a professional qualification in the Spring 2018 review sessions with the ICE.   All courses are scheduled to run in February 2018.   Each course involves the candidates submitting their draft Professional Report in advance, based on which the candidates undergo a mock review and then receive individual feedback on their report and their interview. Our Dr Andy Goodwin delivers the courses based on his extensive mentoring experience and his role as a reviewer for the ICE.  If you have a group of people needing training in this or any other skill area then contact Andy to discuss how he may be able to design a course / mentoring programme to suit your needs and add value to your service provision.

APPROVED MENTOR APPOINTMENT

We are delighted to announce that our Dr Andy Goodwin has been appointed by a large local authority to be the Approved Mentor under the ICE Mentor Supported Training Route for a candidate seeking the IEng professional qualification.  The support involves quarterly review meetings with the candidate to guide his professional development whilst also helping to prepare him for his professional review in due course.

Andy is already the Supervising Civil Engineer for numerous graduates employed by a large oil and gas company.  Additionally, he is using his skills as an SCE and as an ICE Reviewer to support three other graduates as they work towards their professional qualification too.

If you are in need of mentoring or need a mentor for your staff, then please feel free to contact Andy to discuss how he could use his mentoring and professional skills to help you.  He may be contacted on 01246 807808 or email him using the enquiries link on this website.   Andy will happily talk you through what we could do for you to add value to your existing arrangements and processes, without any obligation.

LAST FEW COURSES IN 2017

  The end of 2017 is approaching and we are busy preparing the course calendar for 2018.  There is still time to book onto just a few courses with spaces in 2107:
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice (28 November)
  • Mentoring for Engineering Geologists on Geotechnical Engineering (30 November)
  • The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation (7 December)
  • Introduction to Structural Design to the Eurocodes (12 December)
Each course is running in Chesterfield.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course. Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.  

CHANGE OF REGISTERED ADDRESS

As of 1 November 2017 the registered address of both Surepath Training and Surepath Consulting changed to The Hub at Gladstone Buildings, Broadleys, Clay Cross, Chesterfield S45 9JN. The change follows our move from Tapton Park Innovation Centre to new offices at the registered address in early September 2017.  Any post sent to the old Tapton address will still reach us rest assured.  

A BUSY SUMMER… ICE MOCK REVIEWS AND MENTORING

Two thousand miles of travel across the UK later, from Aberdeen to London, and Manchester to Cambridge, we are finally settling back down after a very busy summer. We have had the pleasure of undertaking numerous mock interviews for candidates sitting their ICE Professional Review in the Autumn 2017 or Spring 2018 sessions.  In total, we worked with 14 candidates and we wish all of them the very best of luck. We also continued to mentor our graduates and assist them to develop their professional skills through supportively questioning them as they discussed their work and explored their learning.  As usual, it was a pleasure working with them and they all rose to the challenge.

If you are in need of mentoring, or need a mentor for your staff, then please contact Andy Goodwin on 01246 807808 or email him at the address below.  Andy will happily talk you through what we could do for you to add value to your existing arrangements and processes, without any obligation.