Updated: 20 April 2020
Over the past few weeks, IStructE has worked hard to follow UK Government guidelines to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic emergency and has managed to broadly operate a normal service in support of our members and the wider profession.
In recent days, the official advice guidelines as well as our own sense of duty and responsibility, means that the Institution now needs to put in place some escalated measures that will impact on our ability to fulfil our entire programme of activities.
Effective from 19 March we are therefore closing our Headquarter Building in London to all members and other visitors and all UK events are suspended at least until 31 August.
We have advised our Regional Groups outside the UK to follow guidelines and best practice in their own country and to the best of our latest information, there are no activities planned to run in the foreseeable future.
Effective from 20 March we will be operating a skeleton staff at our offices and have implemented our emergency contingency plan so that staff will work remotely. We are operating to the principle of “remote when possible/office as necessary” with an aim to minimise the impact of this disruption and as far as possible provide a seamless service in support of our members.
Whilst our CPD events and training programmes are not running, may we remind you of the many excellent online presentations available on the
IStructE YouTube channel.
Additionally, our team have recently finalised the development of a new suite of
webinars and online materials. Our
Library stocks an increasing range of e-books and for those of you preparing for the
IStructE examinations, there is a highly regarded
online preparation course available.
This might be a perfect time for recent graduates to take the
Certificate of Structural Behaviour exam online. We remain hopeful that even if curtailed in some countries, the Institution’s examinations will be able to go ahead in July. All prospective candidates are therefore urged not to miss the cut-off date for registration.
During all of this, we extend our very best wishes to all Members, friends and contacts of the Institution at this very searching time and we will be in contact from time to time to update you on developments.
Sincerely and on behalf of the Institution of Structural Engineers
Martin Powell
Chief Executive