Since no-one else has replied yet, I'll try to...


It's difficult this, because it's very personal. I'd suggest that there are two ways you can approach this, and it's probably best to mix the two.


Firstly, what areas of experience of knowledge would you like to gain over the next one year and next three years? (Those periods aren't "set in stone", I just find they work quite well.) These could be things you are interested in, or things you feel you should do to develop your career. Getting experience of a new software language? Spending more time with customers to understand their needs? Learning about your company's legal compliance process? Then capture how you might be able to do this. What do you want to do. Why do you want to do it. How do you plan to do it. When to do you plan to do it by.

• What: Gain experience of the next generation PLC system and programming.

• Why: To be able to provide support to the update of the control system to the new PLC platform

• How: Attend suppliers training course. Secondment to the team carrying out the trial introduction of the new system.

• When: By October 2019

It's pretty clear that "How" and "When" will need to be agreed with your line manager - but if you go to them with a good "What" and "Why" there's a good chance they'll agree it! And of course some of these will actually come from your line manager.  


Secondly, after you've found the development actions that just come up in the day job, have a look through the competences of UKSpec for the level of registration that applies to you. This may well suggest further areas where you are competent, but could still gain more expertise. Or where you have to be careful that you don't get left behind. So taking a typical one of "E3 Undertake engineering activities in a way that contributes to sustainable development.":

• What: Improve understanding of company's processes relating to safe disposal of equipment after removal.

• Why: To ensure my work is fully compliant, and to look at ways that I may be able to reduce the environmental impact of my projects.

• How: Attend briefing on WEEE directive. Arrange one-to-one session with site lead of HSE. Support environmental audit of next refurbishment project

• When: By December 2019    

How you lay it out is entirely up to you, and it may well be that you are already using an annual appraisal system in your company that captures this sort of thing - in which case I'd suggest use that! You don't need to invent something new. But if you do have to create something new don't get too worried about the format - my main advice is just that however you lay it out you use the "What/Why/How/When" structure.


Hope that helps,


Cheers,


Andy

Since no-one else has replied yet, I'll try to...


It's difficult this, because it's very personal. I'd suggest that there are two ways you can approach this, and it's probably best to mix the two.


Firstly, what areas of experience of knowledge would you like to gain over the next one year and next three years? (Those periods aren't "set in stone", I just find they work quite well.) These could be things you are interested in, or things you feel you should do to develop your career. Getting experience of a new software language? Spending more time with customers to understand their needs? Learning about your company's legal compliance process? Then capture how you might be able to do this. What do you want to do. Why do you want to do it. How do you plan to do it. When to do you plan to do it by.

• What: Gain experience of the next generation PLC system and programming.

• Why: To be able to provide support to the update of the control system to the new PLC platform

• How: Attend suppliers training course. Secondment to the team carrying out the trial introduction of the new system.

• When: By October 2019

It's pretty clear that "How" and "When" will need to be agreed with your line manager - but if you go to them with a good "What" and "Why" there's a good chance they'll agree it! And of course some of these will actually come from your line manager.  


Secondly, after you've found the development actions that just come up in the day job, have a look through the competences of UKSpec for the level of registration that applies to you. This may well suggest further areas where you are competent, but could still gain more expertise. Or where you have to be careful that you don't get left behind. So taking a typical one of "E3 Undertake engineering activities in a way that contributes to sustainable development.":

• What: Improve understanding of company's processes relating to safe disposal of equipment after removal.

• Why: To ensure my work is fully compliant, and to look at ways that I may be able to reduce the environmental impact of my projects.

• How: Attend briefing on WEEE directive. Arrange one-to-one session with site lead of HSE. Support environmental audit of next refurbishment project

• When: By December 2019    

How you lay it out is entirely up to you, and it may well be that you are already using an annual appraisal system in your company that captures this sort of thing - in which case I'd suggest use that! You don't need to invent something new. But if you do have to create something new don't get too worried about the format - my main advice is just that however you lay it out you use the "What/Why/How/When" structure.


Hope that helps,


Cheers,


Andy