davyboy

I know that, its based on the car value and emissions. If I could get away with 40 quid tax on a company cat, I'd have one too.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Meow!

Steve vRS

Ford Focus 5dr New 1.6 TDCi Edge 115PS DPF Start Stop

Tax payable at 20% £453 per year

http://www.comcar.co.uk/newcar/compa...serID=51281854

Steve

Steve vRS

There are no rules over calling yourself an engineer unlike the rest of Europe. However, to be a Chartered Engineer, the criteria are somewhat different!

Couldn't let any Tom, Dick and Harry sign passports!

Steve (BEng (Hons) MIMechE CEng)

scubbay

iTrader: (61)

This is one thing I dislike about being an Engineering Student. People ask the question, "What do you study?" and when they get the answer Mechanical Engineering they think, oh you can fix my car then. Yes I could fix your car but I am not attending one of the finest Engineering universities in the UK to learn how to do that. In the likes of Germany and engineer is held in the same regard as a doctor, dentist, lawyer etc. In the UK because anybody can call themselves an engineer people don't think of it in the same way which annoys me. Most people who call themselves "engineers" are technicians, nothing wrong with what they do and they are needed, even engineers need them, but they are not engineers and should not be allowed to call themselves that.

davyboy

Yep, good point about 20% tax. That makes the difference. Would be about 100 a month at 40%.

subaruturbo_18

I think of them as 'practical scientists' I used to get the same thing when i was at uni! (although i left that degree because doing the maths side of things literally depressed me!)

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

When I click that link it's showing 30k as the income at the bottom. I guess this means salary so I tried to change it to 18.5 and the site went all funny. I tried to go to the home page and do it for a 1.4 astra but the ****e iPad y won't load the page correctly.. Here's the crack - why would they say it's 40 a month if it wasn't? I'm sure the guy knew what he was on about as he went from a zafira at £60 a month down to an astra.

I guess we will see..

WOOF. feckin hate cats!

PaulC72

I think when you change to 18k it then says circa 40 pm in tax.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Engineers

Germany... "Hello I'm an engineer", reply "Come and met the family".

England... "Can you fix my washing machine?"

dunx

adamone

I worked for a company a few years ago and i think the engineers where on around £24,000, with a company car, phone and laptop.

CREWJ

Don't get me started on bloody Sky "engineers"!

£18k is location dependant too. Earn that in London then you probably can't afford a flat. Earn that somewhere in the sticks and you can afford a 3 bed house and be comfortable.

Adam-M

I certainly wouldn't class someone who worked on a fridge, printer or washing machine ect as an engineer.Same with someone who sits on a computer and designs things.

I'd class myself as an engineer, i studied it at college and did it through my apprenticeship, in my eye engineering is more to do with lathes, milling machines, welders and generally working on big stuff. Not stuff you buy from Comet or Currys.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

17k to support your mrs and faye!!!!

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

Well I liked it if nobody else did.

CREWJ

So an engine designer is not an engineer?

Someone with a Masters in Engineering is not an engineer then?

Thanks for clearing that up.

GC8

It always makes me smile when people bitch and argue over the term engineer. No matter how much engineering graduates dislike it, time served apprentices are engineers too.

Its a broad church.

scubbay

iTrader: (61)

In other countries they aren't though, as has been expressed earlier about the like of Germany. As I said before, I have no problem with the people I would call technicians. The workshop in my uni has guys working in there who do stuff that I could only dream of being able to do with regards to machining etc but most of them in my eyes are not engineers in the truest sense of the word. An engineer to me, in this day and age, needs to have studied the subject and gained a qualification, be that a MEng/BEng/HND etc.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It's very simple, really. Engineers design stuff. We have a deep, detailed understanding of materials, physics, heat, electronics or other technical disciplines, and we use that knowledge to create things which work, which are commercially viable and which meet the needs of the people who buy them.

It's not about where the technical knowledge came from (though a university degree is the norm), it's about what we actually do. The people who routinely repair, install or provide support on things may be very capable, talented people, but they are not engineers, they're technicians - and there's nothing at all wrong with being a technician.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

Thread revival... Well I'm now past the probation period with the wage increase to £20k... with a daily bonus starting at £30 depending on how many machines you complete.

It's not only hands on repairing there is an I.T side to it with doing networks & installing software etc... can I still call myself an Engineer?

Will

Network Engineer?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I'm just finishing a mechanical engineering apprenticeship at Tata Steel. Will I be an engineer at the end just because I work on big stuff?

No, I'll be a skilled craftsman in the field of mechanical fitting. If I want engineer status then I'll need to go to university and study for a degree. Technically calling me an engineer for simply studying an NVQ3/VRQ3 which is A-level standard is cheapening the term 'engineer'.



I'm a mechy fitter and earn suitable wages for such.

Adam-M

Then why is it an engineering apprenticeship? I seem to have missed something here.

What qualitfications did you get altogether as part of your apprenticeship?

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Because if you choose to do the advanced maths and sciences aswell as the NVQ qualifications, then you can apply to do a HND at university on day release. This is optional and dependant on passing the exams. I didn't take up this offer for personal circumstance. So the basic you get out of a Tata Steel engineering apprenticeship is to be a skilled crafts person in your specific field, ie, fitters, welders, sparkles and turners in the simplest form.

This is a prime example of cheapening the term, engineer as I am qualified to high college/A-level equivalent standard but to be an engineer (here at least) you must have a degree in your specific field.

Steve vRS

CoB will work in the engineering department, mechanical section I assume hence called a mechanical engineering apprenticeship.

Nowt wrong with being a fitter, well done!

Steve

WRXBOB

Back on topic, when working on copiers in 1995 my basic was £18.5K plus got free car with free fuel even for private use, mobile and laptop. Was based from home and ddidn't pay a penny in tax.for the vehicle. When I left it in 1998 my basic was 24K .
For how easy it was I thought the money was good.

Adam-M

Get what you mean now mate, so basically im a maintenance fitter? I do turning, milling, fitting & welding ect? Don't have a degree, have SVQ2, NC manufacturing & HNC manufacturing.

I always thought that a fitter was basically taking things out a box and putting them together?

All these terms are well mixed up. Not trying to be a t!t.

Adrian F

In my field (construction) those with degrees that make them engineers might be very clever but constantly make basic errors as they have very little practical experience. the pecking order where those with degrees are perceived as more skilled/valued to somebody with 20 years practical experience and good grades in the vocational qualification path is really only driven by the tick box mentality rather than ability to deliver a functioning project on time to budget.

I am sure there are exceptions to this rule but i have yet to meet them and i have worked with electrical engineers from some of the big name consultancies

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

I'd say on paper you're around my level but with the HND above in a specific field. Years ago I'd have studied a British Steel apprenticeship, which back then was quite formidable on your CV. But as the way things are, employers want to see generalised qualifications that they can relate to and spread over a broader range. That's why my apprenticeship is still British Steel/Tata but called an NVQ based Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship.

It'll have been some 'think tank' committee somewhere what will have come up with that bright idea

The HND is required to be able to then do a degree (on my apprenticeship). As said calling me a mechy engineer just because I finished a quite simple NVQ3 and did a couple of exams at VRQ3 is an insult IMHO towards time studied engineers...

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

Exactly. I was made redundant last month and am now job hunting, and wages have taken a beating. I've seen technical jobs where they want a degree, experience, and want you to line manage, and they're paying £17-21k before tax. Some jobs have held up well (particularly management ones), but others have not.


M