Merger talks

Members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Civil Engineers have voted to allow their respective trustee boards to press ahead with merger talks.

Enthusiasm for the proposed merger was more evident among IMechE members than those of the ICE, but there was nevertheless a clear majority within both bodies for the issue to be taken to the next stage.

The results of a consultative exercise indicated that 72% of the 11 541 IMechE members taking part supported the concept of a combined institution, which was also supported by just over half of the 9103 ICE members who voted.

Andrew Ives, IMechE president, commented: ‘The trustees were encouraged by the positive position taken by our members and we are pleased that the IEC council took the same view based on the results of their consultation exercise. We have now met with the president of the ICE and his team and we have agreed to work together on a number of significant joint projects.’