The Council and the institutions collaborate to enhance the public perception of engineering so that the most promising young people recognise it as a highly valued and desirable career option. As the Council's central representative body, the Senate is comprised of members elected by the institutions and registered engineers, together with a small number of Privy Council nominees. The Board for the Engineering Profession promotes the profession by encouraging and facilitating collaborative projects and ventures between the engineering institutions. The Board for Engineers' Regulation maintains the register of engineers and technicians. It defines, reviews, monitors and enforces standards for education, training and professional development.
High standards are vital to ensure the integrity of the profession.
At the heart of professional standards is the National Register of qualified engineers and technicians which the Engineering Council maintains. The Council authorises engineering institutions to propose and admit suitable candidates to the Register. It licenses institutions who, in turn, accredit academic courses at universities and colleges as well as practical training in industry.