SER Organisation and Governance

Dr Sue Doran

Company Secretary and Head of Certification

SER

• Trading company wholly owned by the Institution of Structural Engineers

• Set up, in 2004, to operate schemes of registration of professional engineers

Company Structure

SERBoard

Dr Sue DoranDr John LittlerOliver Ricketts

IStructEResource

SRB JRB

Audit Pool9 Members

11 Members

5 Members

SER Board

• Responsible for operation of the Scheme• Appoints members of the Scottish Registration

Board and Audit Pool• Approves and rejects applications for Scheme

membership• Determines fees for membership, certificate

fees, and remuneration of members of the Scottish Registration Board and of auditors

SER Board

• Arranges issue of documentation relating to the Scheme

• Considers reports of audits and issues notification of the outcome

• Liaises with BSD

Scottish Registration Board

Delegated powers from the SER Board• Assesses applications from individuals and firms for

Scheme membership and recommends acceptance or rejection

• Undertakes audits (together with members of the Audit Pool)

• Reviews reports of audits and makes recommendations thereon

• Assesses CPD returns• Assists in preparing Technical Bulletins and Guidance

Notes

Staff

• Dr Sue Doran – Head of Certification• Dr John Littler – Manager Registration Schemes• Oliver Ricketts – Registration Scheme

Administrator

Applications

• Completed on-line – supporting documentation uploaded

• Completed form printed off for signature• Administrative checks carried out • Assessed by 2 members of the SRB• Further information requested or interview

arranged – where required• SRB makes recommendation to the SER Board• SER Board makes final decision

Annual renewal

• Renewal automatic on payment of annual fee• Prompt sent by e-mail – 2 months before

renewal due• Opportunity to update details

5 year renewal

• Update of declared levels of experience and competence required – prompt sent by e-mail 3 months before renewal due

• Where the member has been audited and, in the case of an Approved Certifier, has made their CPD returns, renewal is automatic on payment of the annual fee

• If no certificates issued during 5 year period a completely new application is required – prompt sent by e-mail 3 months before renewal due

Admin/Technical support

• Contact via admin@ser-ltd.com or by phone

• Changes to certificates• Linking of certificates for amendment to warrant• Changes to Approved Certifier/Approved Body• Queries

Scheme Documentation

• Scheme Guide• 6 Technical Bulletins• 10 Guidance Notes• Available for download from the SER website• Issued in hardcopy to all new members of the

scheme• New issues and revisions circulated to all

members electronically

Suspensions

• Audit outcome letter sets out what the member needs to do in order for SER to consider lifting the suspension. Usually:– Submit revised procedures in writing– Attend an interview with members of the SRB

• All suspended members are offered a meeting with a member of the SRB

• SER informs Building Standards Division (BSD)• BSD informs affected Verifiers

Suspensions

• The interview panel makes a recommendation to the SER Board

• SER Board makes final decision• SER informs BSD of reinstatements. • BSD informs affected Verifiers• A follow-up audit is usually carried out after

reinstatement

Complaints & Disciplinary Procedures

• Published as part of the Scheme Guide and also separately on the web site

• Conduct Panel – decides whether there is a case to answer

• Disciplinary Panel – decides whether the rules of the scheme have been broken, and if so makes a recommendation on the sanction.