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Civil engineers are playing a key role in major projects changing the face of Nottingham, using their skills to help deliver schemes ranging from shopping centres to sewerage systems. But the institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) fears the profession´s image is at risk of disappearing down some of the drains it helps to create.

Civil engineering consultancies say they are facing skills shortages that could get worse as the country builds up to major national infrastructure projects, such as the Olympics 2012. The shortage is turning the trade into a ´sellers´ market. With graduate stating salaries rising 20% over the past five years. Now the institute of Civil Engineers has opened a Nottingham office as it tries to get more people interested in the profession. Malcolm Jackson has been appointed regional manager for the institution, leading a five-strong team who now have a base in offices at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The institution has never had a network of regional offices before and Mr Jackson says taking steps to tackle the skills shortage will be its priority.He told the Post: ´There is a lack of people coming into Engineering and the issue for us is to encourage people all the way from schools upwards to continue with science subjects and move into engineering. We have got some huge infrastructure projects coming up, such as the London Olympics, for which you need such resources. So we can see a gap developing there. Graduate Engineers can pick and choose their jobs, so there is a lot of movement between some of the consultancies they work for: But there are more vacancies than people to fill them.´

Mr Jackson says the skills shortage in Civil Engineering has its origins in the 1990´s, when a fluctuating boom-and-bust economy led Engineers to choose other careers. But he also believes it may have an image problem. With the profession that spawned such historical greats as Isambard Kingdom Brunel now outshone by more high-profile careers.

Mr Jackson said ´They might have an image that it is all muck and hard hats, so we need to open their eyes to what it is really all about and why Engineers can make a difference to the world.´He added ´One of the problems is that we bury some of our best projects, like sewerage and infrastructure works. There are also the flood defences at the Trent Embankment which people are unlikely to take any notice of until something happens.´

The institution also blames the skills shortage on universities closing engineering departments, but Mr Jackson says the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University both have good courses. The Institution of Civil Engineers has 3,500 members in the East Midlands and MR Jackson says he and his team will be working to raise the profile of the organisation and the profession.

´We chose Nottingham because it is really the centre of the East Midlands and an appropriate place for an organisation whose members tend to be in the three cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. It is also where the Government Office for the East Midlands and the regional development agency are based and our regions tend to coincide with their boundaries. So it seemed natural choice.´

Gordon Masterton, institution president, said. ´The UK is currently abundant with infrastructure projects, but we simply haven´t got enough young Engineers coming through the education system to meet our needs. Without future Brunels our ageing infrastructure will suffer even more in years to come.´ He added, ´It still amazes me that the public doesn´t realise the importance engineers play in society. If either of the Ross or Rachel characters in friends had been a civil engineer, I have no doubt we would be attracting more applicants into our profession.´

Train as a Civil Engineer and make a difference. BUILDERS and architects regularly get recognition for landmark projects, but without Civil Engineers their projects would never get off the drawing board. The tram, Trinity Square and the Eastside regeneration zone are all examples of Nottingham projects that would not happen without them.

Many other examples go unnoticed underneath our feet. Broadly, Civil Engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of public structures like roads, bridges and other major developments. Civil Engineers can examine the economic feasibility of a project and come up with ideas to make it happen. They can manage the design, procurement and building of a project. There are a number of independent civil engineering consultancies in Nottingham, including BWB Consulting.

But Civil Engineers do not just work for private consultancies. They can be found in local authorities and utility companies. Steve Wooler is a joint regional director with BWB Consulting, the Nottingham Civil Engineers. He said ´Skills shortages are a huge issue for the industry because it puts the brakes on expansion. It is difficult to get good people and the whole industry has been constrained by it. There is a lack of people going into it and seeing it as a good, vibrant career. But the truth is that it´s a fantastic career. You get involved in some exciting, diverse projects. It is a career in which you play a part in the evolution of the place you live and work in, an opportunity to make a difference and make things happen.´Civil Engineers take a degree or masters course at university, then undergo several years development through a training programme with their employer. This takes several years. After a professional review to access their competence, they can then become a chartered engineer.