The BDS Young Engineers' Forums role in succession planning

The UK dams and reservoirs industry faces many challenges in the future, including ageing assets, changes to legislation, requirements to cut costs, population growth and global climate change. To overcome some of these challenges, it is essential that as an industry we invest heavily in our human resource to ensure that our engineering professionals can continue to meet the demands of a high-risk industry. The British Dam Society recognised the need to invest in young engineers (under 35 years of age) and created a forum led by a group of young engineers. The Young Engineers' Forum aims to open communication channels between young engineers within the British Dam Society and assists in expanding the membership base of persons under 35 years of age within the society. A primary focus of the group is to link current supervising engineers and inspecting engineers with young engineers who are aspiring to join the panel. The Young Engineers' Forum aspires to create an environment that assists in the development of our engineers. This paper will outline the objectives and delivery aims of the Young Engineers' Forum; however, this will not be possible without the continued support of members of the supervising and inspecting engineers panels.