A Short History of the IET in France: More Than a Century of Engineering Connection

When people talk about the history of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the story usually begins in 1871 with the formation of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, followed by familiar milestones, mergers, and global growth. These narratives are important, but they often overlook a quieter, equally remarkable story: the IET’s enduring presence beyond the UK.

Nowhere is that more evident than in France.

At the beginning of 2024, the IET France Local Network approached a significant milestone: 30 years since its formal registration as a Loi 1901 association. What initially appeared to be a simple anniversary quickly became an invitation to look deeper. As someone who had joined the network relatively recently, having moved to France two years earlier, I realised that understanding where the network is today meant understanding how it came to be.

What followed was not a straightforward archive exercise, but a journey through personal recollections, half-forgotten documents, and the collective memory of generations of engineers.

Falling down the historical rabbit hole

Researching the origins of the IET in France proved far more involved than expected. Conversations with long-standing members revealed stories that had never been formally recorded. Archive searches uncovered letters, clippings, and photographs that hinted at activity long before the modern network existed.

Some discoveries required creativity rather than catalogues. Old VHS tapes retrieved from garages. Coffee-stained meeting minutes found in cardboard boxes. Fading photo albums that had survived multiple house moves. Over six months, the process became one of writing, deleting, rewriting, and occasionally questioning the wisdom of starting at all.

Yet this patchwork of sources revealed something compelling: the IET’s presence in France did not begin in 1994, or even in 1988. It began much earlier.

Before networks had names

The official formation of the IET France Local Network in 1994 marked an important organisational milestone, but it was not the beginning of the story.

In 1988, a small group of enterprising engineers, often described as a “gang of four,” established the IEE French Centre. This formalised activity that had already been taking place for decades. Going further back, in 1946, a founder of Électricité de France became the first Overseas Member of the IEE Council representing France.

Even that was not the earliest link. Records show that appointed Honorary Secretaries represented the IEE in France as far back as 1887. This places the institution’s presence in France before the completion of the Eiffel Tower.

The significance of this continuity is easy to overlook. Long before modern ideas of international networks and digital communities, engineers were already organising across borders, sharing knowledge, and maintaining professional identity abroad.

Such continuity reflects a broader engineering mindset: systems endure when they are maintained, adapted, and supported by people who understand both technical and cultural context. In professional environments, this same principle underpins structured foundations such as health and safety training for engineers, which ensure consistency even as conditions change.

Through upheaval and reinvention

The history of the IET in France is inseparable from the wider events of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. World wars, economic crises, political shifts, and technological revolutions all left their mark.

There were periods of uncertainty and reorganisation. Petitions to IEE councils. Changes in governance. Mergers that reshaped the institution itself. Yet through these transitions, the French presence endured.

More recently, the network navigated Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rapid digitisation of professional engagement. Events moved online. New forms of outreach emerged. Activities expanded to include initiatives such as Lego League competitions and IET TV broadcasts, alongside traditional lectures and networking.

This adaptability reflects a defining characteristic of engineering communities: resilience built through collective problem-solving. Managing change requires clarity, coordination, and trust, qualities reinforced through structured practices such as effective communication in construction and engineering, which apply as much to volunteer networks as they do to technical projects.

Volunteers as the connective tissue

One theme runs consistently through the IET’s French history: people.

Members, volunteers, and staff have sustained the network across generations. They organised meetings, represented the institution locally, built partnerships, and ensured continuity even when formal structures shifted.

Unlike centrally managed organisations, overseas networks depend heavily on local commitment. Success is not guaranteed by policy alone. It is earned through relationships, shared effort, and the willingness to invest time without immediate reward.

This reliance on volunteer energy mirrors broader professional ecosystems, where credibility and trust are built gradually. In education and training, transparency and outcomes help reinforce confidence, often reflected through mechanisms such as a training provider reviews page that captures lived experience rather than intention.

A uniquely French flavour

While the IET in France is part of a global institution, it has always retained a distinct local character.

Events have blended British engineering heritage with French professional culture. Partnerships with local organisations have grounded activities within the French engineering landscape. Social moments, whether formal dinners or informal gatherings involving Beaujolais Nouveau, have been as important as technical content in building community.

This blend of professionalism and conviviality has helped sustain engagement over time. It has also allowed the network to remain relevant to engineers working across borders, industries, and disciplines.

As engineering careers become increasingly international, such networks play an essential role in supporting mobility, identity, and professional continuity. This reinforces wider discussions about why engineering and trade careers remain a strong long-term choice in a globalised economy.

Preserving history while looking forward

Documenting this history was not an exercise in nostalgia. It was an attempt to preserve institutional memory before it faded.

Engineering organisations are good at recording technical progress, but less consistent at capturing the human stories that enable it. Letters, meeting minutes, photographs, and personal recollections may appear trivial individually, yet together they form a record of persistence and shared purpose.

Understanding where the IET in France has come from provides context for where it is going. It highlights the importance of infrastructure, not just physical but organisational and social, in sustaining professional communities over time.

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and long-term impact, this perspective aligns with broader professional values around stewardship and responsibility, echoed in commitments such as a carbon reduction plan for training providers and institutions seeking to balance progress with legacy.

Standing on the shoulders of others

As current Chair of the IET France Local Network, presenting this history is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is a reminder that today’s activities are part of a much longer story shaped by individuals who gave their time, often quietly, to keep the network alive.

The work involved moments of frustration, self-doubt, and persistence. Yet it was ultimately a labour of respect. Respect for those who came before. Respect for the institution. And respect for the idea that professional communities matter.

Staying connected

The IET in France continues to evolve, supported by its members, volunteers, and staff. Engagement now spans digital platforms as well as in-person events, ensuring accessibility across regions and career stages.

Those interested in staying informed or getting involved are encouraged to connect through EngX, LinkedIn, and Facebook, where news, events, and activities are regularly shared.

This history belongs not just to the past, but to everyone contributing to the network today and in the future.

A story still being written

The IET’s presence in France has survived wars, institutional change, and societal transformation. That endurance speaks to the strength of shared professional identity and the value of sustained connection.

As engineering continues to evolve, so too will the networks that support it. The story of the IET in France is not finished. It is ongoing, shaped by each new member, volunteer, and idea. And like all good engineering stories, it is built on foundations laid long before the final structure takes shape.