Compiled by: Stephen Tate – Immediate Past President (ICorr), 2022-2024
ICorr are very pleased to support Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 10-14th 2025 and the STEM Big Bang at Parliament on 24th November 2025.
Introduction
Photo: Failed Structure due to Corrosion
Corrosion of Metals impacts all Countries to varying degrees, according to the local climate and operating conditions. Key factors are pressure, temperature, humidity and any contaminants present, for example Oxygen or Carbon Dioxide.
This has major financial impacts and causes loss of important Infrastructure – Bridges, Hospitals and Schools for example.
Did you know that in the UK, the total Cost of Corrosion equals the current spend on Education provision (about 4% of GDP).
This is money that could otherwise be spent on providing new and improved Facilities.
Our Institute
The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) was founded in 1959 and is dedicated to promoting Corrosion Prevention, through Education, Professional Training and Certification.
Advancing Corrosion Science & Engineering | Institute of Corrosion
Photo: Anti-Corrosion Coatings for Pipelines
There are many ways in which Corrosion can be prevented through Design changes, Material changes, Applied Coatings, Chemical Treatments and Electrochemical methods.
Regular maintenance is of course very important.
Bridges – Forth Road Bridge marks 60th anniversary – how long will it last? – BBC News
Buildings – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-66669239
Careers in Corrosion are both interesting and generally well remunerated, as there are relatively few Corrosion Specialists globally.
For example, ICorr has around 1500 globally members presently.
Photo: Testing the Efficiency of Anti-Corrosion (Cathodic Protection) systems to buried Pipelines
These fall into 2 Main Groups:
- Science (Laboratory/Research based) our Corrosion Science Division (CSD) within ICorr.
- Practicing Engineers (Field or Office based), the Corrosion Engineering Division (CED) of ICorr.
Each of the Corrosion Scientist and Engineer categories has several sub-divisions or unique operating areas.
For example:
Corrosion Scientist – https://www.icorr.org/?s=Research
Corrosion Engineer – You searched for Cathodic Protection – Institute of Corrosion
ICorr represents Industry and Academia at all levels, from Apprenticeship, through to Technician, through to Engineer and onwards to Professor.
How ICorr can progress your Career in Engineering
ICorr is one of 40 UK Professional Engineering Institutes (PEI’s) in the UK.
This means that we have been granted a special licence, as being competent to offer Chartered Engineer Status to Practicing Corrosion Engineers.
You searched for Chartered Engineer – Institute of Corrosion
ICorr also offers Chartered Scientist Status to Practicing Corrosion Scientists.
You searched for Chartered Scientist – Institute of Corrosion
In the Corrosion Prevention Industry, there are so many interesting Career opportunities.
Whichever path you decide to take, or at whichever level you wish to start at, there are always avenues open to you and companies and organisations willing to assist you in achieving your Goals.
Contact Details:
I am happy to advise you in any way I can and can be contacted below, should you have any questions at all.
With my very best wishes for your future career. I wish you every success.
Stephen Tate
Immediate Past President
Institute of Corrosion
past.president@icorr.org
