Britain’s fastest-growing professional engineering institution has awarded a fellowship to a mechanical engineer at Trant in Hampshire.
Chartered engineer Simon Whaley, 42, with 20 years’ experience in the water engineering industry, is formally a FIMechE.
He is the first member of staff to be bestowed the title while working at Trant, the Southampton-based engineering and civil engineering construction group founded 55 years ago and employing more than 650 people.
The fellowship came from The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which has a 165-year heritage and whose 100,000 members work at the heart of the UK’s infrastructure sectors.
Married father-of-two Simon, who lives in Salisbury, is an M&E contracts manager for Trant in the water engineering industry, specialising in the delivery of new and upgraded sewage and sludge treatment facilities across southern England for water utility clients.
Tim Trant, group managing director, said: “Congratulations are very much in order to Simon – this is the first time a member of staff has been awarded a fellowship while working for us.
“This is the highest class of elected membership and is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to, and innovation in, mechanical engineering.”
Simon’s recognition follows active participation in the Institution and implementing the Monitored Professional Development Scheme for up-and-coming engineers at Trant.
There are, currently, three developing engineers on the scheme.
Simon said: “It’s a privilege to be awarded a fellowship by the Institution – I feel deeply humbled and am happy to champion the cause of the profession at grass roots level.
“Mechanical engineering plays a vital part in Britain’s water industry, as it does elsewhere, and our role here at Trant is to provide best-of-class engineering solutions for our clients.”
Simon is a Master of Science, with a Masters degree in water engineering at the University of Strathclyde (1995-96) and a BEng at the University of Surrey (1989-93).
