SER Organisation and Governance

1. SER Organisation and Governance Dr Sue Doran Company Secretary and Head of Certification

2. SER • Trading company wholly owned by the Institution of Structural Engineers • Set up, in 2004, to operate schemes of registration of professional engineers

3. Company Structure

4. 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

5. SER Board • Arranges issue of documentation relating to the Scheme • Considers reports of audits and issues notification of the outcome • Liaises with BSD

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. Annual renewal • Renewal automatic on payment of annual fee • Prompt sent by e-mail – 2 months before renewal due • Opportunity to update details

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.