A Manifesto for Change – Latest

This is an open manifesto for those who seek change. For the thinkers, dreamers and doers. Post-it lovers, doodlers and procrastinators. The intro to the extroverted. Rational and irrational. Modelmakers and prototypers. The worriers and problem-solvers. Flippers and calculators. The tiny detailers and big picture see-ers. Pen-pushers and blue-collars. The tea-makers and tidy-uppers. Pupils and peers. Teachers and taught. Competitors and clients. As a practice, we are ready to raise the call for action before it's too late but we can' t do it alone. We need to revolutionise sectors, create conversations and forge partnerships. Together let's make the changes needed to deliver the engineering solutions for tomorrow, today. Whoever you are, join us, and let's engineer a better society.

As part of our 25^th birthday, we wanted to look forward to the next 25 years and to really challenge ourselves to think about the impact we can have for today, tomorrow and the future.

To this end, we set out to create a manifesto. This is not about us, or our work, but about some of the big questions that need to be answered by us and by our industry. For us it is important that this isn’t just about words, it is about action. We want this to be a call to all of our clients, collaborators and friends to get engaged, get involved and help us to engineer a better society.

Historically, engineers have always helped facilitate change to respond to demand. The ability to see both the big picture, solve the detail and make things happen underpinned the first 3 industrial revolutions. Our own business has been revolutionised. In 25 years we have gone from slide rules to robotic construction methods, with artificial intelligence and smart dust around the corner. Looking ahead 25 years we need a paradigm shift to allow us to focus our engineering solutions on the things that need it most. We must recognise that the focus has to be on what is good rather than less bad. What sectors and strands of our industry need most help? Which of those can counter the issues we face or are contributing most widely to them?

To help us do this, we have created a platform called ETHICS — Education, Technology, Health, Infrastructure, Culture and Sustainability. Six broad pillars that provide a framework for understanding the challenges and creating solutions. Together, they define Governments and the decisions they make which drive all aspects of our lives today. By understanding and appreciating these metrics we can become better engineers. It will help us to change our habits.

We encourage you to read the manifesto, engage with our programme of events at The Building Society and put forward ideas for future debate.

Contact us at ethics@elliottwood.co.uk