Hi, my name's Julie Hudson and I'm a Local Network Manager in our Communities team. I've been with the IET for over 16 years now, working with volunteers for all that time. I love my job and supporting local network volunteers in the UK with their aims and objectives.
Volunteering is such an important part of the IET - we simply couldn't be without you! So, I've written this blog to explain how important volunteering can be for your own self-benefit.
We want to make sure you get as much out of volunteering as you put into it. That’s why we can support you in your role by offering a dedicated member of staff to support and advise you and a suite of online tools to help you fulfil our objectives.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Volunteering for the IET offers numerous benefits, both for individuals, their employers and the communities they serve.
Here are some of the key advantages of volunteering:
- Personal Development: Volunteering allows you to develop and enhance various skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and time management. It can also boost your self-confidence, self-esteem and sense of purpose.
- Learning Opportunities: Through volunteering, you can gain valuable knowledge and insights about different fields, industries and social issues. It provides practical experience and exposure to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives.
- Networking: Volunteering connects you with like-minded individuals and professionals who share your interests. Building a network of contacts can be beneficial for personal, educational and career-related opportunities in the future. If you’re just starting out at work or are new to an area, you’ll broaden your network and find people with common interests while giving you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills in a safe environment.
- Emotional Well-being: Engaging in meaningful volunteer work can bring a sense of fulfilment, happiness and satisfaction. It promotes positive mental health by reducing stress, combating feelings of loneliness, and increasing overall life satisfaction.
- Social Impact: Volunteering allows you to make a positive impact on your community.
- Career Advancement: Volunteering offers opportunities to develop industry-specific skills and gain practical experience, which can enhance your CV and make you more marketable to potential employers. It also provides a chance to explore career paths, test out different roles and build a professional reputation.
- Broadening Perspectives: By volunteering, you can gain a deeper understanding of societal challenges. This exposure helps broaden your perspectives.
- Giving Back: Volunteering provides an avenue for giving back and making a positive difference.
Overall, volunteering offers a wide range of benefits, from personal growth and skill development to social impact and a sense of purpose. It’s a rewarding experience that can have lasting effects on both the volunteer and the community they serve. It’s also the perfect way to discover what you’re good at, at a pace that suits you. You can work on the things you need to grow in and put the skills you already have to good use. You could offer to speak at an event, volunteer to chair a meeting, or manage a project – all excellent ways of growing your experience outside of work, while contributing towards your continuing professional development (CPD).
The Communities team are looking for volunteers for our Technical and Local Networks.
Technical Networks (TNs) are driven by groups of volunteers who work or have expertise within specific topic areas. TNs share and advance knowledge through various activities you can get involved in.
Local Networks (LNs) are made up of people in your local area, who organise events and activities covering a broad range of engineering and technology subject matter.
Don't take my word for it! Here are a few testimonials from some of our hard-working local network volunteers 
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Kwashie became a volunteer earlier this year. "I became a volunteer because I have been lecturing at Colleges over the past six years and I noticed that most of the engineering apprenticeship students did not have any knowledge of the existence of the IET, though they work with professional engineers in their companies. A few of the students did have knowledge of it but thought it was for qualified engineers. Therefore, when I attended my local network (Kent), I raised that issue and volunteered to help raise awareness for learners and organisations to encourage them to join the IET." |
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I’m Dave Miller and I currently coordinate the Isle of Wight (IW) Section whilst a fresh committee team gets established. Dave was IW Section Chair from 2005-2020 and has advised “I first got involved with the then IEE Essex Centre Younger Members Section in the 1990s and after relocating to the Isle of Wight became involved again. Being on an IET committee is professionally satisfying, allowing you to influence local delivery of events, and enjoyable in terms of researching and meeting presenters, and networking with peers. I would encourage others to get involved and give back to the community – It does not take excessive time. New faces, fresh ideas, and role changes are welcomed." |
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I'm Dan, the chair of the Gloucestershire committee. My reasons for volunteering are twofold. Firstly, by volunteering, I'm helping an organisation that enhances the lives and skills of engineers, technologists, and members of the public. Dissemination of knowledge is how we can grow and improve ourselves, and making a better world is a great legacy to leave! Secondly, it's for my personal development. By working on the committee, organising events, and speaking to volunteers and local engineering businesses, I am improving my own skills by using opportunities not available to me in work. This helps my own career growth, as well as my journey toward chartership. I can highly recommend volunteering for the IET – no matter what point you are at in your career, you can get something out of it. Becoming a committee member, the local face of the IET, will provide you with the opportunity to meet presenters and volunteers from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and industries throughout the region and beyond. With the work shared around the committee it need not take a lot of time – it all depends on how involved you want to be. Whatever you do, be prepared to get more out of it than you put into it! |
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I'm Doug, the chair of the Devon and Cornwall committee and I have some significant boots to fill. Our past chair, Garry Lester, has been the chair for 17 years and I would like to thank him for his remarkable years of service. His commitment during this time has ensured the IET Devon and Cornwall committee has thrived and remains as one of the most prominent and influential IET committees in the UK. I'm a 42-year-old father of two, originally from Glasgow but have lived in Plymouth for 16 years. I'm a Principal Consultant for RINA (formally ERA). I undertake work in the field of asset management, electrical testing, condition assessment and forensic engineering. My projects have included condition and failure analysis of cable systems, transformers, switchgear, motors/generators and UPS systems in many different sectors and countries worldwide. Becoming a committee member, the local face of the IET, will provide you with the opportunity to meet presenters and volunteers from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and industries throughout the region and beyond. This is the element of the role I enjoy the most. |
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Dr Rui Zhang works in ESO as a team manager which specialises in power system operation and technical policy. He started volunteering when he became a Chartered Engineer through the IET back in 2017. He then offered his expertise to engineers who wanted to develop to be a Chartered Engineer. He is also the Vice Chair of the Berkshire Local Network Committee. |
So why not get in touch with me if you want to know more? You wouldn't have to become a member of a committee. You may just want to help organise an event, or do some social media promotion for your local network. We're flexible and will try to find something for you.
