IDE to create new membership grade

A major item of note passed by the membership at the Institute of Demolition Engineers' annual AGM and Luncheon was the announcement of the introduction of a Technician grade of membership of the Institute – the aim of this is to attract demolition professionals who are perhaps unwilling to go through the formal examination process required to gain higher levels of membership. This initiative had previously been passed by the council of mamangement, but was put to the members for approval.

Terry Quarmby told the audience that the new Technician Grade: “sits in between an Entrant Member and an Associate Member. To be accepted at the new grade, one needs to be in full time employment in the industry for a minimum of five years, be the holder of a Gold Card (supervisor status) or a Manager’s Card and have their CPD status fully up to date. If accepted by the membership committee, that member will have full voting rights in Institute business, be able to apply the initial TechIDE after his or her name, and will henceforth have the official title of ‘Demolition Technician’.”

He went on: “A Technician is not a full member and cannot attain that rank until he or she takes and passes the Institute’s entrance examination. The role of the new grade is to recognise that the role of an individual has a level of responsibility commensurate with a person in a junior or middle management role. They cannot claim the title of a demolition engineer, which in itself recognises an individual in a senior management position.”

Applicants for this grade of membership should, in the first instance, download the application form from the IDE web site or apply through the national secretary. Completed forms should be emailed or posted to the IDE’s office, together with any supporting evidence. Candidates wishing to apply for the Technician Grade membership may seek a proposer from the list of IDE members to strengthen their application, or alternatively contact the national secretary for assistance

The IDE’s management council is confident that there is a considerable number of skilled individuals in the industry that could easily attain this new grade of membership. Terry said: “The Institute would urge all of those who may have become somewhat disillusioned in the past or have reservations about applying for membership in the first instance to consider applying for the TechIDE. They should look upon this as an excellent opportunity to get onto the membership ladder with a view to obtaining full membership at a later stage.”