The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has secured accreditation from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for its BEng and MEng Integrated Engineering degrees, marking a significant milestone for the Hereford-based institution.
The accreditation is among the most rigorous external validations available to UK engineering programmes, confirming that NMITE’s courses meet the highest standards of technical excellence, quality and professional relevance. It also signals strong endorsement of the institute’s non-traditional, hands-on teaching model.
The IET, which represents more than 157,000 engineering professionals across 148 countries, awards accreditation only to programmes aligned with the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). NMITE’s accredited status is now formally listed on both IET and Engineering Council databases.
James Newby, President and Chief Executive of NMITE, said the achievement reflected both the institution’s innovative approach and the robustness of its programmes.
“This news has genuine life-changing potential for our diverse intake of students. Gaining a degree accredited by the IET sets them on a path to Chartered Engineer status and that means they will be respected professionals with a life of professional fulfilment and economic security.”
– James Newby, President and Chief Executive of NMITE.
Jesse Norman, co-founder and chair of NMITE, added that the accreditation demonstrates the strength of the institute’s model compared with more traditional routes.
“As this accreditation confirms, NMITE students are highly trained technical engineers, fully the equal of graduates from the UK’s leading universities. But studying at NMITE has also developed their practical skills, emotional resilience and work-readiness.
“This accreditation sends a clear signal to employers, companies and the wider higher education sector: NMITE’s distinctive, hands-on model delivers graduates of the highest academic and professional quality.”
– Jesse Norman, co-founder and chair of NMITE.
For students and graduates, the accreditation provides formal professional recognition and a direct pathway towards Chartered Engineer status, enhancing both career prospects and long-term earning potential.
The process was led by NMITE’s Quality Assurance Manager, Lucy Stonehouse, who coordinated efforts across academic and professional teams. She described the assessment as highly rigorous but ultimately rewarding.
“The IET ran an extremely thorough process, and the workload has at times been enormous, but we gave them confidence in our programme and our team to merit the accreditation.”
– Lucy Stonehouse, NMITE’s Quality Assurance Manager.
The milestone builds on NMITE’s award of New Degree Awarding Powers from the Office for Students in September 2023, and represents a further step towards securing full degree awarding powers, strengthening the long-term value and recognition of an NMITE qualification.
An NMITE graduate now working in industry also welcomed the development. Elise Cummings, an engineer at Balfour Beatty, said the accreditation reflects growing confidence from employers and the wider sector.
“This milestone represents further trust in the university from industry, which will only further support my development going forth as an NMITE Engineer.”
– Elise Cummings, Balfour Beatty engineer.
The accreditation underscores NMITE’s ambition to reshape engineering education in the UK, combining academic rigour with practical, industry-focused training.
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