Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Navigating the hidden costs of disability

    Engineering thrives on different perspectives and ways of thinking. Yet disabled people are still underrepresented in the profession. According to Engineering UK , 14% of people working in engineering and technology identify as disabled, compared with 19% across other sectors. For many people, the biggest barrier isn’t their condition itself. It’s the extra costs and logistics that come with it. This is sometimes called the ‘disability tax’ – the extra financial burden that disabled people can face simply to access the same opportunities as everyone else. The disability tax The disability tax can take many forms. It might mean buying specialist equipment, adapting your home, paying for care, arranging accessible transport, or funding assessments needed to access support. For some people…

  • An institution with (rail) connections

    A blog looking at the UK’s early electric railways and links with our Institution and its members by guest blogger David Knights FIET . Railway history is often dominated by the names of civil and mechanical engineers. As the “new” technology of electricity developed, railways were often “early adopters”. The IET has a long-standing relationship with the railway. Our past Presidents and members have played a significant role in the development of the railways, including their electrification. This article highlights some of the notable electrical engineers who contributed to these pioneering developments. A short history of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) The IET can trace its history back to 1871 when the Society of Telegraph Engineers (STE) was founded. In 1880 it…

  • Bo Yang: A Story of Mentorship and Growth

    Mentorship is often discussed as a tool for early career development yet its value does not diminish as engineers become more senior. Bo Yang’s experience through the IET mentoring programme shows how guidance from an experienced volunteer can help established leaders sharpen their impact refine their narrative and step confidently into wider influence. “I didn’t seek a mentor to learn how to do engineering, but to refine how I position leadership and articulate impact at a systems level.” When Bo first connected with her mentor Colin, she was already operating at Director level. She was leading large teams and delivering complex engineering programmes, but her challenge was no longer technical depth. Instead, her focus had shifted to scaling impact across organisations, strategy, and…

Latest IET EngX News

  • Curiosity, AI and the Future of Engineering - July's Highlights on EngX

    July on EngX was packed with thought‑provoking ideas, career reflections and practical engineering conversations. From exploring the decision‑making challenges behind artificial intelligence to rethinking how we design workplaces and infrastructure, the community shared a wide range of perspectives on how engineering continues to evolve. Alongside these future‑focused topics, personal career stories and lively forum discussions reminded us that some of the most valuable insights come from sharing experiences with one another. Here's a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Dead on Arrival: Why fresh produce needs a digital brain, not just a GPS This fascinating blog explored how digital twins, IoT sensors and predictive AI could help tackle one of…

  • June Highlights on EngX: Digital twins, decarbonisation and community conversations

    June on EngX brought together a fascinating mix of future-focused thinking, practical engineering challenges and inspiring community stories. From exploring how digital twins are transforming decision-making across industries to tackling the realities of decarbonising energy-intensive sectors, members continued to share insight, experience and expertise. Alongside these technical discussions, stories celebrating engineering talent, STEM education and inclusion helped showcase the people driving our profession forward. Here’s a look at some of the content that stood out this month. Blogs worth a read Digital twins in motion: why a multi-disciplinary debate matters now Digital twins have rapidly evolved from an emerging concept into a practical engineering tool, and this blog explored…

  • AI, Engineering Skills and Real‑World Challenges: May's highlights on EngX

    As we wrap up May, it has been another thoughtful and wide‑ranging month across the IET EngX community. From deep dives into engineering history and emerging technology challenges to open conversations around skills, wellbeing, and global impact, members have continued to share insight, experience and practical knowledge. Here are some of our top highlights from across EngX in May. Top Discussions This Month The forums have been as active as ever, with conversations spanning cutting‑edge technology, career development, and practical engineering challenges. A number of threads explored AI and digital transformation, including discussions such as Beyond hype: uncovering the critical research axes and future trajectories of AI‑driven digital transformation and Zero Trust was not built…

Latest Partner News

  • Josie Harries discusses how Domino is working to increase support for women in the workplace

    Encouraging women to choose careers in STEM subjects has been top of the agenda for many years – but what fresh ideas can you introduce within the workplace to attract and support female employees? At Domino, we are committed to improving the gender ratio in leadership roles within a business to 40% by 2030. This target, endorsed from Board level down, now stands at 25%, from a starting figure of 18%. Support networks Recently we re-launched our Women@Domino global network to promote inclusion within the business and facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences, as well as networking, mentoring, events and training. Gender was also one of three key areas in our new Inclusion & Diversity strategy. The network is not limited to female employees; male colleagues are encouraged to participate…

  • Road to Engineering event introduces children to the world of engineering

    BAE System's Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK), Barrow-in-Furness successfully hosted the 6th Road to Engineering event which took place over three action-packed days. Over 200 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aims to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Adapt and Change' following the British Science week theme. Supporting the event were the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Barrow District of Associate Engineers and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who contributed valuable insight, merchandise and STEM packs for schools. Stephen Rowe, Project Director of Engineering Transformation said, "It was a privilege to attend the Road to Engineering event and…

  • H&MV Engineering appointed as principal designer and contractor for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

    H&MV Engineering has been appointed as principal designer and contractor for the delivery of the 400 kV grid connection and electrical infrastructure for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – the largest of its kind in the UK and among the largest in Europe. This landmark project, led by Fidra Energy and backed by major investment from EIG and the UK Government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), has now reached financial close with construction commencing immediately. Located on the site of the former Thorpe Marsh coal-fired power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the 1,400MW / 3,100MWh facility will be capable of exporting over 2 million MWh annually, supplying clean energy to approximately 785,000 homes. Once operational in mid-2027, it will be three times larger than…

Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • US coastal wetlands succumb to sea level rise, putting infrastructure at risk

    Coastal infrastructure in the US is increasingly at risk from rising sea levels that are rapidly enveloping the country’s wetlands, a study from the US Geological Survey has found. Sea levels are rising faster than at any time in recent geologic history. A new national-level study has found that 84% of the US’s coastal wetlands are succumbing to the sea and are on track to become open water areas that offer little protection inland. Wetlands dissipate the impact of storm surges, are often used to protect buildings and transportation networks in coastal towns and cities and are also key habitats for wildlife. Globally, sea level rise averaged 1.7mm per year during the 20th century but has sped up in recent decades, hitting 3.8mm per year between 2006 and 2018. While higher water levels…

  • Rocket problem delays UK’s first orbital launch

    The first orbital rocket launch from the UK mainland has been delayed indefinitely after German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) discovered an issue “that requires further investigation”. The firm was preparing for the inaugural launch of its RFA ONE vehicle from the Scotland-based SaxaVord Spaceport this summer, but has said on X that it needs to “destack” the vehicle to understand an underlying problem. The previously agreed upon launch window was a five-week span starting from Monday August 10, with the ultimate decision taken 24 hours beforehand depending on local conditions. Once confirmed, a launch exclusion zone will be implemented around the spaceport, rerouting flight traffic while marine vessels are asked to leave the area." The RFA One rocket, which has been in development…

  • Hungary’s sole nuclear power plant faces shutdown as Danube falls to record low

    Hungary is the latest European country to shut down or reduce nuclear power output due to severe heatwaves and critically low river levels. In a historic first, Hungary’s two gigawatt Paks power plant is expected to halt operations completely this week as the Danube River drops to record low levels. The plant relies on these waters for reactor cooling. In a Facebook video posted on Sunday (2 August), Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar said: ”We are facing the most critical five days ahead. Tomorrow, the Paks power plant will not be generating, while the hottest, 40°C days are ahead.” With Hungary’s water authority projecting that the levels of the Danube will continue to drop amid the heat, Paks, which generates about half of the country's electricity, could remain inactive for weeks…