Chairman's Welcome

Dear Member

First may I thank the Coventry and Warwickshire Branch of the IET for giving me the honour of being your Chairman for the ensuing year.

As a young apprentice arriving in Coventry and Warwickshire in 1960 and now as a CEO of a local engineering company I have witnessed the enormous changes that have impacted on our manufacturing base over the intervening years.   Despite the enormous decline in our manufacturing base we still boast an engineering heritage second to none that will be pivotal for the resurgence of manufacturing in the area.  The growth will come from innovative high specification niche products and the support of our two top class engineering Universities here in the area.

Like most organisations we depend on a small group of dedicated volunteers to ensure we maintain the high standards expected of our Institution, and to all those volunteers I would like to convey your sincere thanks for their dedication. 
David Archer your outgoing chairman has been dedicated in fighting the cause in the area for all engineers to have their say and be recognised for the contribution they provide for our society.  So many thanks David for all you have done and the support you have given to me.

Like most engineers I really love designing, developing and producing outstanding world-class products.  It’s a very “real job” and one that brings enormous satisfaction and we need to convey this enthusiasm into our junior and secondary schools if we are to win our share of talented youngsters.  I would particularly like to thank all those engaged in the Imagineering Fair and Clubs which are targeted and focussed on delivering this objective.

Networking with other Engineering Institutions and Groups is essential if we are to ensure our needs and aspirations are realised.  Work across the West Midlands IET branch areas: Midlands Communication Group, Midlands IT Group, Midlands Manufacturing Group and Midland Power Group are key to our future and we look to adding more specialist groups to meet future demand as the IET goes from strength to strength.

Once again your local committee has put together an excellent programme of events and I would implore you to select at least one to attend; they are great events and help us all keep up to date with what is going on in our engineering world.

During my year I would like to convince those in our Community that the incredible innovation of engineers in Coventry and Warwickshire over the years be recognised by some form of monument in the area.  The monument should reflect not only the past engineering glories but should “Imagineer” the engineering future for our young people.  Perhaps we can engineer it to move and to move us both literally and metaphorically.

Yours sincerely

Roger Medwell
Chairman