Speaking personally, assuming that the motives of those involved are honest and honourable, then I see no fundamental reason why a group of professional people should not choose to collaborate in recognising each other and inviting others to join in. 


The model being adopted is based on UK professional or "learned society" principles, but being unregulated, could easily be used to mislead by someone with less than honourable motives. I'm a frequent critic of some aspects of Engineering Council policy and it is obvious from the extent of voluntary participation that the proposition it sets out using UK-SPEC, serves some practitioners considerably better than others, but it is a proper regulator. Similar issues arise in other countries.

I hope to attend a talk this evening organised by a club of Railway enthusiasts that I joined last year, the speaker is a high profile industry figure so I hope to learn something of interest, but the club doesn't offer members any form of assessment or "recognition".  I can sympathise with those who seem to have been excluded and want to continue what they had. I wish them no harm, but I would still advise anyone who isn't already a member, in this or any similar circumstances to exercise due dilligence before becoming involved. I have seen too many people with credentials and qualifications that they paid money for, but have little value, or even in worst case undermine their credibility.

Speaking personally, assuming that the motives of those involved are honest and honourable, then I see no fundamental reason why a group of professional people should not choose to collaborate in recognising each other and inviting others to join in. 


The model being adopted is based on UK professional or "learned society" principles, but being unregulated, could easily be used to mislead by someone with less than honourable motives. I'm a frequent critic of some aspects of Engineering Council policy and it is obvious from the extent of voluntary participation that the proposition it sets out using UK-SPEC, serves some practitioners considerably better than others, but it is a proper regulator. Similar issues arise in other countries.

I hope to attend a talk this evening organised by a club of Railway enthusiasts that I joined last year, the speaker is a high profile industry figure so I hope to learn something of interest, but the club doesn't offer members any form of assessment or "recognition".  I can sympathise with those who seem to have been excluded and want to continue what they had. I wish them no harm, but I would still advise anyone who isn't already a member, in this or any similar circumstances to exercise due dilligence before becoming involved. I have seen too many people with credentials and qualifications that they paid money for, but have little value, or even in worst case undermine their credibility.