The membership of the institute is elected on the basis of their academic and professional achievements with Members and Fellows entitled to the postnominal MNEIMME and FNEIMME.

[2] The Institute's membership is predominantly from local industry and from academics at Durham and Newcastle Universities, though members are also located further afield across the UK.

[5] The Institute itself continues as an independent professional membership organisation for engineers, and is currently developing a new strategy that aims to increase its activities.

The origins of the Institute stem from William Turner, minister of the Hanover Square Chapel,[6] just behind the position of Newcastle railway station.

[11] A coroner's court held at the Mill Inn at Seaham in 1852 suggested it would be advantageous to form a society to consider the prevention of accidents in coal mines.

It was to be called "The North of England Society for the Prevention of Accidents and for other purposes connected with mining", and Nicholas Wood would be chairman.

The College of Physical Science in Newcastle, linked to Durham University, was founded in 1871 following some years of discussion and promotion by the institute.

Historically the institute was concerned not just with measures to reduce accidents, but with the theory, art and practice of mining in general.

[14] So through meetings, presentation, discussion and publication of research papers, investigations, experimental work, and so on, the Institute tried to fulfil these aims.

A working group of the Institute concluded that a widening of its role was needed and suggested it used its heritage and collections as a basis for a programme of training, conference, debates, etc.

[23] Heritage Lottery grants enabled the development of the ideas and the creation of a new charity and limited company now named The Common Room of the Great North.

[24] Neville Hall and the NEIMME Library collections - books, journals, reports, maps, photographs, archives, etc.

In early years meetings of the Institute were held in the Literary and Philosophical Society and other local premises, but the need for its own building became apparent.

[7] In 1867 plans were made and the building constructed in 1869–72 in Grainger's new town on the site of the medical school on land traditionally held by the Dukes of Westmorland, the Nevilles.

The original lecture theatre was replaced by the current one in 1902 designed by local architects Cackett and Burns Dick, and modelled on that at the Royal Institution in London.

It features a steep rake of seating constructed from Cuban mahogany and the walls display portraits of all the institute's Presidents since 1852.

The Institutes' higher membership grades are judged upon academic and professional achievements, with unqualified but interested members of the public able to join in the lower category.

Many of the Institutes' members have conducted research into the North Pennine Orefield with trips to mines and geological outcrops recorded in its Transactions since the late 1800s to the present day.

The institute works with other learned and professional organisations to provide its members and the wider public with lectures and events across a range of disciplines.