A man of the people01 December 2005

When John Ratcliff, CBE, was made Patron of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) a year ago, not only did he see that as a tremendous honour, he also regarded is as a huge responsibility. For one thing, he was passionately committed to ensuring that each of the SOE's professional sectors - IPlantE, IRTE and BES - did not suffer from a loss of identity or become swallowed up by the umbrella organisation.

As patron, Ratcliff knew he wouldn't be operating in any comfort zone. While he acknowledged at the time the prestigious position he was being asked to take on, he was under no illusions about the task ahead. All three sectors had a tremendous amount to contribute individually and it was vital their voices should be heard. Nor was this something on which Ratcliff was prepared to compromise. After all, as patron he was being asked to represent the interests of 18,000 road transport engineers, plant engineers and engineering surveyors at a time of great change and challenge.

To Ratcliff, these people were the very lifeblood of the organisation - a fact he made abundantly clear when he first took on the role.

"Engineer surveyors, plant engineers and road transport engineers do not just play an important part in the infrastructure of our country," he said at the time, "they are the infrastructure of our country ...[they] are vital to the life and prosperity of the United Kingdom."

His loyalty to those that constitute the membership of the SOE is rooted in 40-plus years of working with what he describes as the "many, many inspiring professionals in these fields". His pledge to them when he became the new patron was "to assist you in any way that I can - and to promote your excellence and importance, and to playing my part in achieving, for you, the increased recognition that you so richly deserve".

A year down the line, when he delivered his patron's address at the recent industry lunch hosted at Arundel House, London, he was able to express his appreciation at being asked to remain as patron, while also reflecting on the transformation the SOE has undergone.

"My role is a bit different this year," Ratcliff told the assembled. "As some of you know, the SOE underwent a governance restructure in June. The organisation now comprises a small SOE Board of Trustees, supported by newly created councils for each of our professional sectors - IPlantE, IRTE and BES - all of which are represented here today. This new structure formalises an internal change and has already proven beneficial to the future of the SOE."

This has been the culmination of a great deal of hard work and application behind the scenes by members of the SOE Council and the staff of the Society. For Ratcliff, however, the outcome has been more than worth the effort and he congratulated all concerned for their achievements. All three councils have met and are already working to focus on servicing their members, and building relationships with the companies that employ and influence their industries.

At the lunch, Ratcliff paid tribute to current president John Eastman as the first to lead the new-style SOE. "Congratulations John," he told him, "and thank you for your inspired quote: 'It is great to be part of a group, if without the loss of identity'."

There is no mistaking how much this means to Ratcliff. "The new structure reinstates these great identities of IPlantE, IRTE & BES which are part of the SOE," he says. "We hope this change of focus makes it attractive for other bodies of engineers who face increasing overheads within their organisations to join the exciting restructured SOE and still maintain their identity.

Pioneering a new approach

"For those who deal with other engineering institutions, they'll be very aware of how different we are from other bodies. The current trend right now is for larger institutions to merge with other large institutions, which then become super-sized professional bodies with a broadened scope. We like to think we initiated this new approach with our own merger five years.

"Members expect bespoke events, targeted publications and websites. Their professional body needs to know what they want - and this is exactly what our new councils are going to deliver."

Ratcliff singles out the three outstanding chairmen responsible for promoting the individual aims of each council. "Nikki King OBE has attracted exciting new members to the IRTE Council and has set a challenging programme. Steve Catte is providing the leadership qualities and direction required to establish and confirm the IPlantE as the prestigious organisation it is. And John Childs is chairman of a highly motivated BES Council which has an unrivalled reputation that will carry it forward to achieve great things on behalf of its membership."

Ratcliff also had this message for the representatives of the industries present. "There is another major reason we have become a more focused institution - and that's you! We know we can't work closely with industry, if we stretch our business too far in too many directions. As a professional body serving your employees, we need to know what issues you face on a daily basis. For example, we know that you are all dealing with the disastrous skills shortage in engineering. The situation doesn't look good - and it isn't getting any better. There are fewer people working in this profession and, as the numbers fall, neither graduates nor apprentices are replacing them in sufficient numbers.

"We all know that engineering is misunderstood by the public, including the parents of children that are deciding their careers or choosing where they will go to university. The decreasing numbers of students taking maths and science A levels was widely covered in the national press. Engineering sometimes does not enjoy the reputation its deserves and industry needs to work with professional bodies such as the SOE and its councils to find solutions, and give engineers the respect and opportunities they merit.

"Through our strong CPD (Continuous Professional Development) programme, we can help members to develop their staff, endorse their training schemes and formally recognise the professionalism of their employees."

Ratcliff also singles out the success of the SOE's Skills Centre at this year's Commercial Vehicle Show. "It was more like a skills village," he says, "with major manufacturers and organisations involved in education and training, demonstrating what is available to those wishing to become engineers in our industries. Next year is going to be even bigger and better, and we need to find ways of getting even more young people and their parents to attend."

The latest ETB statistics published in the 2005 Survey of Registered Engineers show that nearly 80% of registered engineers joined their respective institutions because they thought membership would help them to develop their careers. "Now it's up to us to work together to make good on that promise," adds Ratcliff. "The involvement of our industry partners will be the most critical factor for the SOE in achieving continuing success. We have established three experienced groups of engineers to define the areas we need to be working in and to guide their sectors to accomplish the ambitious goals we have set for ourselves. If ever there was a perfect time to join forces with the SOE and its specialist councils - IPLANTE, IRTE and BES - this is it.

"A myriad of activity is already in progress at head office as we finally reap the benefits of the merger five years ago. The SOE acknowledged the challenges we faced by trying to cater to such a diverse membership. This year, we completed the necessary steps to successfully correct our past mistakes and I believe we have now created an even better and stronger society in 2005."

Ratcliff has a long association with the IRTE and now the SOE, having been a deeply committed member since 1968. Therefore, he speaks not only as Patron of the Society of Operations Engineers, but also as a member and past Chairman and Vice President of the IRTE, an employer and an industry partner.

"I know the tremendous impact my professional body memberships have had on my own career, and now I'm working with my fellow members and the SOE staff to help the next generation of engineers to realise the full benefits of the many services we have to offer them, too. I'm sure that, by working together, both the SOE and its membership will enjoy a worthwhile and truly rewarding future."


John Ratcliff - a man for all reasons

John Ratcliff, CBE CEng FIMechE FSOE FIRTE, has been actively involved in the world of transport and plant engineering for many years. In 2004, he was made Patron of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers), which represents 18,000 road transport engineers, plant engineers and engineering surveyors through the three professional sectors of the engineering industry - the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), IPlantE and BES.

Ratcliff is past chairman and vice president of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Carmen, and a Fellow of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, of the Chartered Institute of Transport, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a passionate IRTE member - serving as chairman from 1987-88 - and extremely well known in the road transport industry.

He is both chairman and co-founder of the Ratcliff Group, which consists of three main companies: Wessex Medical Equipment, which specialises in mobility equipment for the disabled; commercial vehicle accessory service company Stone Hardy; and Planet Flowline, which specialises in the design, supply, installation, commissioning and technical support of individual machines and complete turnkey projects in the food processing, drinks and packaging industries.

In July of this year, the Ratcliff Group sold Ratcliff Tail Lifts, which has, for the past 40 years, been the UK's market leader in its sector, with arguably the widest range of tail-lift models in the world (both for commercial vehicles and passenger applications). The acquiring company was Palfinger AG, the Austrian-based engineering company, which is the world's largest manufacturer of truck-mounted cranes, represented in 180 countries (see www.palfinger.com for more details).

As well as his varied business interests, Ratcliff is Vice-President of London Youth (formerly the London Federation of Boys' Clubs) and works tirelessly for charity, having been President, Variety Clubs International, and a proud Companion of the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Born in Essex in 1936, he now lives in Hertfordshire with his American-born wife, Marsha Rae Ratcliff, who, in 1992, was the first woman to achieve the distinction of being Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain.

John Ratcliff was awarded his CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the 2001 New Year's Honours List for Services to the Road Transport Industry.

SOE

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