A new placement programme has launched for university technicians to enable them to exchange skills, share experience and best practice.

Technicians play a vital role in universities. The work that they do, usually unseen, enables teaching, research, knowledge exchange and outreach activities to take place.

The Technical Skills Placement Programme, introduced by Midlands Innovation to support technical staff working across institutions in the region, will provide technicians with an opportunity to work with technicians at other universities on a short placement, in order to develop their skills and make new contacts that can provide support and advice to help them in their future technical careers.

Speaking about the Programme, Kelly Vere, Director of the Technician Commitment, said: “The Midlands Innovation Placement Programme is an innovative initiative that aims to drive the professional development of technicians across the Midlands. It’s fantastic to see universities working together in support of the Technician Commitment and their technical communities”.

Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation, added: “Over the past three years the Midlands Innovation partnership has embarked on a programme of activities designed to increase the visibility of our technical workforce, to recognise excellence and to think about collaboratively supporting their career development. Technicians are vital in ensuring the success of our universities and research institutes, providing academic, research and student colleagues with the essential technical expertise that they need to enable their research and teaching.”

Midlands Innovation represents eight universities in the region, in which over 2,100 technicians are employed, providing a diverse range of technical expertise. All members of the Midlands Innovation partnership are founding signatories of the Technician Commitment; a sector wide initiative led by the Science Council and supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Technicians Make It Happen campaign. The Commitment aims to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

The Technical Skills Placement Programme is open to any technician, of any grade from across the member universities. Funding covers travel, sustenance and accommodation.

Applications for the programme are welcome directly from technicians, or from managers who would like their staff members to learn or experience a particular technique or skill.

For more details and to download the application form visit this page: http://www.midlandsinnovation.org.uk/programmes/technical-skills-placement-programme.aspx

Applications close on Wednesday 20 February 2019.