Maintaining IChemE accreditation: ongoing expectations and support for companies

Accredited Company Training Schemes (ACTS) support the development of chemical engineers towards becoming Chartered Members. However, Lydia White says it is not just a badge of achievement – it comes with ongoing expectations and responsibilities.

Once accredited, training schemes must show they have structures in place that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to support the initial professional development of early career engineers.

These expectations include:

1. Structured development plans: Accredited companies are required to provide each graduate with a tailored development plan with access to relevant work experiences and training opportunities, guiding them through a structured route towards becoming an IChemE Chartered Member
2. Qualified mentors: Mentors are vital in helping graduates interpret real-world challenges through the lens of IChemE’s competencies, and companies need to ensure mentors are adequately trained and available to support graduates
3. Regular performance reviews: A critical component of maintaining accreditation is conducting regular reviews of graduates’ progress. This includes evaluating technical skills, professional growth, and assessing progress toward meeting IChemE’s required competencies for Chartered Membership
4. Documentation: Companies are expected to register all trainees and mentors involved with the scheme and report any changes to IChemE each year. IChemE also requires scheme managers to certificate when a trainee completes the scheme
5. Commitment to continuous improvement: Accredited companies are expected to regularly review and update their training schemes, incorporating feedback from both graduates and IChemE. This ensures that the training remains relevant to the evolving demands of the chemical engineering profession

Support from IChemE: partners in development

Accreditation is an ongoing partnership between the company and IChemE. To support companies, IChemE provides a range of resources including:

1. Guidance and Resources: IChemE offers guidance documents, tools, and templates to help companies align their training schemes with accreditation standards. These resources are essential in helping companies design, assess, and continually improve their schemes
2. Mentor Training and Workshops: IChemE offers online mentor-training sessions and resources to help mentors stay informed on best practice, ensuring those responsible for guiding the next generation of chemical engineers are well-equipped to provide high-quality support. “Get Chartered in a day” workshops are a new initiative to support more experienced ACTS trainees to complete their Chartered Membership applications efficiently
3. Expert Feedback: IChemE’s ACTS assessors provide feedback and suggestions for improvement to scheme managers, drawing on their knowledge and experience of schemes elsewhere. In addition, the Regional Engagement team are always on hand to offer advice and tailored support
4. Networking and Knowledge Sharing: IChemE facilitates networking between accredited companies at annual workshops and soon also on IChemE Connect, allowing scheme managers to share best practices and learn from each other’s experiences. This collaboration creates a community of companies committed to professional development

Accreditation as a partnership for excellence

For companies, achieving ACTS accreditation is a significant accomplishment, but it comes with the responsibility of ongoing excellence. IChemE provides extensive support to help companies meet these expectations, from mentor development to knowledge-sharing, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the challenges of the chemical engineering profession.

This partnership with IChemE can lead to a continuous cycle of improvement, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and professional attributes to succeed in a complex and evolving industry. By maintaining this focus on development, accredited companies contribute not only to the success of their employees but to the broader chemical engineering profession.

Ensure your training scheme stays at the forefront of professional development. Partner with IChemE to maintain excellence and support the next generation of chemical engineers. To learn more, visit the Accreditation: Graduate training schemes page

This is the third part of a series of articles on the benefits of accredited company training schemes for employers, graduates, and volunteers. To read the whole series, visit the Benefits of accredited company training schemes page.