View From the Chair
Young ICorr is an integral part of the Institute of Corrosion, with a remit that encompasses close collaboration with ICorr’s branches. This year, it has taken on the administration and management of the Young Engineer’s Programme (YEP). While this will now be a major focus for the Young ICorr committee, it is by no means the only role it plays.
“Young ICorr has a huge responsibility to feed people from all quarters into the industry-leading education and qualification opportunities delivered by the Institute – undoubtedly one of the corrosion industry’s best accredited providers,” says James McGladdery, the chair of Young ICorr. “This is crucial for those who need qualifications in, for example, coatings or cathodic protection – professionals who go into the field and solve problems on the ground.”
To this end, Young ICorr organises several networking events throughout the year; delivers an outreach program to reach a new audience and be more inclusive toward non-university students; and acts as the conduit for senior corrosion professionals to offer mentorships and career guidance to those in the first 10 years of their career in corrosion.
We caught up with James to get a feel for what his role is in all of this, and to ask about his view for the future of Young ICorr.
Fitting In the Young ICorr Role with a Busy Life
James estimates that he spends an average of around a day each month on his role as Chair of Young ICorr. Most of this time is spent feeding back into Young ICorr’s objectives, and reporting to the Trustees and Council of the Institute.
“In many ways, what we do is the market research of the future of ICorr, and this is very much understood by ICorr’s senior figures,” says James. “A lot of what I do is to ensure we align with the Institute’s overarching objectives, and feeding back on that.”
“I’m fortunate to work for a very inclusive employer, the UK National Nuclear Laboratory. They provide me with a little time each month for my work as Chair of Young ICorr,” James says.
“Then again, I think the Institute of Corrosion, Young ICorr, and my employer share many objectives, including to support the energy infrastructure and engineering assets within the UK and on the world stage. That’s either done through developing different energy sources, or through preventing metals from corroding: different approaches to a shared goal.”
However, the time that James allots to his ICorr role doesn’t include attending events and meetings, which James says he doesn’t see as work. “Even though I may be ultimately responsible for Young ICorr’s events and programs, when I’m there I am also benefitting from attending.”
Reigniting the Young ICorr Brand Post-Covid
Like many companies, groups, and bodies, Young ICorr’s modus operandi was forced to undertake a complete shift because of Covid.
“We had to transition how we operated. Introductory sessions became virtual meetings,” explains James. “These just aren’t the same as in-person events. So we’re now having to transition back, and this means restarting our in-person university and social events.
“I also want to crack into the college market, too. So we’re trying to build on existing connections and develop new openings. Part of this is gaining a greater understanding of what value we can bring to this cohort.”
It’s also important that we have the mindset that we can evolve and adapt very quickly to deliver what young engineers need – which is not the same as the young engineers of 10 years ago. Even though we might not be able to do all we need to today, we’ll find ways to deliver what is required of us tomorrow.”
Broadening the appeal of the industry at early career and education stages
“It’s struck me that the way that Young ICorr is currently set up – and the way the Young Engineer’s Programme has been run historically – with the traditional events and outreach, is really a split between industry and academia,” says James.
“This means that we’re missing a lot of great potential. People who do apprenticeships or vocational training, for example. Yet the YEP program offers a huge amount of practical knowledge provided by some of the world’s leading corrosion practitioners.
“What we’d like to do is evolve our role to incorporate everyone across the spectrum. There’s a huge niche that we can tap into there. We need to lead the conversation that broadens our reach. Just like it’s not all about oil and gas, it’s not all about getting a university education.”
Putting in place various initiatives should help to beat skills shortages, by improving awareness of the industry and the ways to become qualified in corrosion-related careers. We need people who probably haven’t completed a PhD, but people who need the knowledge and appropriate qualifications to go into the field and solve problems on the ground.
Future-Proofing ICorr
Speaking to James is refreshing, not only because of his persona, but also because of his self-awareness. He sees his strength as leading a team of people, each of whom has unique skills, knowledge, and capability to bring to the table. And he’s building the team that can achieve Young ICorr’s goals.
“I can set the picture, and get the ball rolling, but I feel it is the people involved that will help to drive a bright future for Young ICorr and the Institute of Corrosion in the longer term,” he says. “Young ICorr committee members like Ben Lee, Izabela Gajewska, and Josie Watson are likely to become the driving force in the future.
“Then there are people like Danny Burkle, who provides a wealth of knowledge about ICorr as well as the connections that help us function effectively.
“In many ways, I’m an industry outsider. That’s a good thing because I can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas. In the long term, though, it will be people like Ben, Izabela, and Josie that have the greatest impact on the future of ICorr.”
To learn more about this vibrant and forward-looking sector of the Institute of Corrosion, visit the Young ICorr pages on the ICorr website, or email us at info.youngicorr@gmail.com.