Case study | Lawler Group

At Lawler Group, we genuinely believe in Chartership. For us, Chartered Engineer status through CIBSE isn't just another qualification, it's a globally recognised demonstration of competence across 18 professional competencies.

One phrase I keep coming back to is that Chartership isn't about proving you're good enough; it's about recognising the competence and experience you've already built throughout your professional career. The process gives engineers the opportunity to reflect on everything they've achieved and demonstrate it against an internationally recognised standard.

We wanted to create an environment where our engineers were supported through that journey rather than expected to navigate it alone. We have engineers following both the academic and experience routes, which is another real strength of the CIBSE process because it recognises that excellent engineers come from different backgrounds.

Ultimately, our philosophy is simple: if an engineer is capable of becoming Chartered, we believe they should be Chartered, and we're willing to invest in helping them get there.

The structure has made a huge difference.

Having regular check-in meetings with Mark Samson and the CIBSE Membership team has kept everyone focused and given engineers somewhere to ask questions as they progressed. The voluntary reviews before submission have also been incredibly valuable because they give people confidence that they're heading in the right direction.

On a practical level, the Company Registration Package has simplified the administration as well. Managing one company package rather than ten separate applications is much more efficient.

It's genuinely felt like a partnership. Nobody has ever felt like they're completing the process on their own, and I think that's been a major reason why we've maintained such good momentum as a group.

It's strengthened collaboration across the business because engineers are naturally sharing knowledge and learning from one another. People are discussing projects they delivered years ago, reflecting on challenges they've overcome and recognising the breadth of expertise that exists within the team.

Clients have always wanted confidence that they're working with competent engineers who meet recognised professional standards. Supporting Chartered Engineer registration across Lawler Group reinforces that commitment and demonstrates the importance we place on technical excellence and continual professional development.

Prospective employees notice it too. Engineers want to know they'll continue developing throughout their careers, and being able to offer a structured pathway to Chartership is a really positive message.

The leadership team were very supportive from the outset because Professional Registration aligns perfectly with our values around technical excellence and investing in our people.

The biggest challenge wasn't convincing anyone that Chartership was worthwhile. It was helping busy engineers make time for themselves. Engineers naturally prioritise clients and projects, and Professional Registration often ends up sitting on the long finger.

Once everyone started together, that changed completely. Suddenly there was a shared goal, and that created real momentum.

We've enrolled ten engineers across the Lawler Group through the Company Registration Package.

Five have already submitted their Chartered Engineer applications, and the remaining five are due to submit in August, so we're hoping to see our first cohort successfully achieve Professional Registration very soon.

While those numbers are important, I actually think the biggest success has been cultural. We've created a sustainable process that we'll continue year after year rather than treating this as a one-off initiative.

I'd simply say, do it.

The administrative benefits are helpful, but they're the smallest part of the story.

The biggest benefit is the culture it creates. It gives engineers a shared goal, encourages collaboration and helps people recognise the value of the experience they've built throughout their careers. That's something that's difficult to put a value on.