In today’s competitive marketplace, amidst the backdrop of rising fuel and water poverty, the energy crisis, and the drive for net-zero, the need for plumbing and heating engineers who are committed to professionalism, to safeguarding the environment and public health and safety, and to keeping up to date with technological and legislative changes has never been greater.
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) is a membership body for those involved in any part of the plumbing and heating industry. The CIPHE has members worldwide and is the only Chartered, Professional Body for the UK plumbing and heating sector. The CIPHE helps members be the very best they can be, providing access to technical training, professional development, and support and you can become a member today.
‘CIPHE features such as Find a Plumber and my Engineering Council registration are now a key part of how I tell customers I am a skilled and trustworthy professional.’
BW, CIPHE Member
A registered charity (Charity Number 1124517), the CIPHE’s purpose is to protect the health and safety of the public through a strong, qualified membership that is valued for their competency and technical expertise. The CIPHE is also a Professional Engineering Institute (PEI), licensed by the Engineering Council to assess and award professionally registered status to its members.
Formed in 1906, since 1970 the Institute has managed the Register of Plumbers, which was first established by the Worshipful Company of Plumbers in 1886. In 2008, the Institute achieved its Charter of Incorporation, and became the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), receiving Chartered Awarding status in 2016.
Today, the CIPHE’s aims and objectives are focused on four areas:
- Membership
- Public Safety and Health
- Research
- Education
Our members are bound by a Code of Professional Standards. Further, we encourage them to engage in their career development through achieving professionally registered status with the Engineering Council, either as EngTech, IEng or CEng or through attaining the Apprentice, Journeyman and Master Plumber Certificates, which are awarded by the CIPHE, City and Guilds and the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.
‘CIPHE helps me to establish where I am in and my career now and target where I want to get to.’
LC, CIPHE Associate Member
By defining and monitoring professional standards, and in compiling and publishing the lists of Registered Plumbers and Registered Heating Professionals, we benefit public safety and health by educating them on the importance of using sufficiently skilled, technically competent plumbing and heating engineers.
To support the development of members, we encourage research groups in building services engineering to study and research new technical developments and conduct and publish our own research and development papers.
As part of our commitment to further the education of the profession worldwide we promote technical training programmes with colleges and the industry, and supporting training in new and emerging technologies, such as our recently-launched Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Qualification.
‘My trainee membership of CIPHE means I understand my role and the industry better. Their support for me is essential.’
KW, CIPHE Trainee Member
Our membership is at the heart of the CIPHE, and members are entitled to a range of core benefits and services to help grow their careers, establish their businesses, and keep abreast of the latest technical developments in the industry. You can join online today.
Key benefits include:
- Use of the CIPHE logo
- Designatory letters after your name
- The opportunity to be entered on the Register of Plumbers (RP) and Register of Heating Professionals (RHP).
- Advertise your business, and affiliation to the CIPHE, to the public on the CIPHE online business directory (additional fee applies).
- Join the CIPHE’s Approved Contractor Person scheme (ACP) and register for WaterSafe.
- Access online CPD and get free technical advice on our technical helpline.
- Discounts on a range of business-related services.
To see the full range of benefits, to explore membership options and show your customers that you’re “Proud to be a Professional” visit the membership section of the CIPHE website. You can also call the membership department on 01708 463 116 or via email at membership@ciphe.org.uk.
Tradesman Talk
Are you a member of the CIPHE? If yes, how has the membership supported our career?
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Until next time, make sure it’s Tradesman Saver.
