Prestigious appointment for Derbyshire engineer
Eminent Derbyshire Engineer William Kemp has received a prestigious honour; being elected Vice-Chairman of the Engineering Council.
The Engineering Council is the UK’s regulatory body for the engineering community: holding the register of 235,000 engineers from different branches of the profession, including: civil, mechanical, electronic and computer engineers.
William began his second three-year term representing the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on the Engineering Council in May and was elected Vice-Chairman at the council’s annual general meeting.
William has particular responsibilities for the administration of the Engineering Council, chairing the Finance, Audit and Remuneration Panel. As Vice-Chairman, he will also deputise for the council’s Chairman, Rear Admiral Nigel Guild at board meetings and external events.
He also heads Engineering Council’s working group on employee engagement and is involved with the Council’s work on continuing professional development (CPD).
William, who lives in Wingerworth, is an ICE Fellow (the highest grade of ICE membership) and served a three year term as ICE Vice-President, until November 2011.
He spent the whole of his 40 year career with Scott Wilson, now URS, progressing to the role of Highways Director. During his time with the company, he led the establishment of major design offices in Chesterfield and Matlock and the laboratories in Chilwell, Nottingham.
The training scheme he set up there has led to the professional qualification of many young engineers.
William was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2007 and in June 2011 received a special award from ICE East Midlands recognising his contribution to civil engineering in the region. His contribution was so outstanding that the award was named ‘the William Kemp Award’ in his honour.
William Kemp commented on his appointment as Engineering Council Vice-Chairman: “It is satisfying to serve the whole spectrum of engineering from civils to electronics and computing and to introduce other institutions to ideas which have worked well for ICE.
“I am also pleased to raise the profile of the East Midlands, which has been historically under-represented at national level.”
Malcolm Jackson, Regional Director – ICE East Midlands, added: “I would like to congratulate William on his election as Vice-Chairman of the Engineering Council – an appointment which is richly deserved.
“He brings to the role a wealth of experience from 40 years in industry and representing ICE at all levels from branch chairman to national Vice-President and it is pleasing that his contribution will be heard at this level.”