The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy

Our latest report spotlights 10 case studies of technical professionals driving sustainability improvements in higher education and research institutions.

Read their stories👉 buff.ly/c2hTLvt

NEWS | What skills do technicians need right now?

Our latest article looks at how the skills landscape is changing in HE and research, and introduces our new 2026 courses designed to support technical professionals at every stage of their career.

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Less than 50% of WinterFest tickets remain.

Join our free online learning festival this January, with sessions from leadership and coaching to GitHub and Power BI.

Connect with 1,000+ technical professionals.

Book now:
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Recommendation 7: External recognition and engagement. External bodies should recognise the technical community’s contributions to sustainability and ensure eligibility for relevant opportunities such grant.

Recommendation 6: Training and development. Technical professionals need time and support to access relevant qualifications and upskilling opportunities to empower them to lead sustainability improvements from the front – including ‘train the trainer’ and assessor training where needed.

Recommendation 5: Sharing best practice. Technical professionals should share ideas and best practice through fora like SPARKHub and our Environmental Sustainability Network (ESN).

Recommendation 4: Engagement with SPARKHub. The UKRI-developed Sustainable Practice and Research Knowledge Hub (SPARKHub) provides a range of resources to support sustainable practices. Continuing engagement between UKRI and the technical community on the development of this resource will maximise its benefits. ITSS can help signpost engagement opportunities to the technical community.

Recommendation 3: Visibility and recognition. Institutions should ensure that the technical community’s contributions to sustainability are visible and celebrated.

Recommendation 2: Representation and participation. Technical voices should be included in every level of strategic & operational sustainability planning and decision-making. Their expertise makes them ideally placed to add valuable input.

Recommendation 1: Understanding and formalising responsibilities. Many technicians volunteer their time for sustainability work on top of their formal duties. This time commitment should be recognised and reflected in job descriptions and workload allocation.

Our new report showcases how technicians help make higher education and research more environmentally sustainable.

The report ends with 7 recommendations to help empower environmental leadership in the technical community

Explore the recommendations below 👇
Read the full report 👉 buff.ly/V90Nk9j

Cover of a report titled “Driving environmental sustainability: The contribution of technical professionals in higher education and research.” The design features layered geometric shapes in shades of green and yellow. At the top are two logos: the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy on the left and the Technician Commitment logo on the right.

INSIGHT | New report showcases how technical professionals drive environmental sustainability in higher education and research

Read our new report 👉 buff.ly/bIumgje

40+ technical professionals applied to our Knowledge Exchange Placement Programme last month.

They help professionals learn specialist skills, save research time, and unlock collaborations.

Next application closes 2 March 2026. Learn more and apply: buff.ly/MqA9JeY.

Collage celebrating the eight nominees shortlisted for the 2025 Times Higher Education Outstanding Technician of the Year Award. Top row: Phil Chaplain, Engineering Services Manager and Health & Safety Coordinator in the School of Computing, Engineering & Technology at Robert Gordon University. Second row (left to right): Linda Lightley, Scientific Officer in the School of Design at Northumbria University; Jiteen Ahmed, Head of Technical Services in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University; Alex Laude, Head of Biomedical Research Facilities at Newcastle University. Third row (left to right): Helena Brown, Technical Specialist in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds; John Nicolson, Technician Development Adviser at the University of Cambridge. Bottom row (left to right): Joe Rees-Jones, Research Technician in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York; Kate Robinson, Ruminant Section Manager at Harper Adams University’s Future Farm.

Monday reading: Meet the 8 shortlisted nominees for the 2025 @timeshighered.bsky.social Outstanding Technician of the Year award ➡️ shorturl.at/6IVv0
We’re proud to sponsor the award – winner announced this Thursday at the #THEAwards

COMMENT | Post-16 Education & Skills White Paper

We welcome the white paper, which aims to close the UK's education gap & boost productivity and the focus on skills and technical education, lifelong learning and technical excellence buff.ly/iPhmF44

COMMENT | Response to Post-16 Education & Skills White Paper

We welcome the white paper and its focus on skills and technical education as national priorities, emphasising lifelong learning and technical excellence

➡️https://buff.ly/iPhmF44

Our Oct Digest is out, featuring:
T Level case studies
Response to further and higher education reforms
Technical Teaching Recognition One-Day Workshop Oct & Nov
Info about upcoming 2026 training
Read buff.ly/NOpg4g2
Subscribe buff.ly/oA1waUB

100s of technicians start their mentoring journey

The Cross Institution Mentoring Scheme (CIMS-T), led by Dorothea Mangels, Lisa Bedder, and Trevor Hardy, offers specialist mentoring support for technical professionals

Read more itss.org.uk/100-technica...

Discover how apprenticeships can address the technical skills gap in academia and research.

Our report highlights the Growth and Skills Levy (formerly Apprenticeship Levy) is widely under-used and untapped funds could help investment into technical careers

Download the full report buff.ly/qMLJhhJ

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Join the 2026 Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership✨

Enhance skills in leadership, culture and more.
Delivered January - June 2026, online
Free - sponsored by Research England
Join 1000+ technicians in the #HerschelLeaders network

➡️ Apply now: buff.ly/H17Yteb

Thanks for sharing

SURVEY | New LGBTQIA+ survey launched for technical professionals

Gathering experiences on comfort and inclusion at work, career progression, bullying and harassment and support at work.

📋 10 minutes | 🤫 anonymous | 🎁 win £100

👉 Take part buff.ly/1eBAWzM

Publications - UK ITSS Publications, insight reports on hot topics and Government policy consultations from the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy.

📚 Keep up to date with our latest reports, insights and policy consultations online

➡️ We publish them all online here

Equipment Sharing Fund - UK ITSS UK research professionals can apply for funding to access research technologies listed in the ITSS Technology Capabilities Showcase.

What does sharing technical infrastructure really look like in action?

The ITSS Technical Capabilities Showcase maps 260+ technician-led facilities across the UK – unlocking access to equipment + expertise buff.ly/jFUoqF6

Funds available to access kit featured in showcase

Have you heard of our ITSS Capabilities Sharing Showcase?

🔬 250+ items listed from state-of-the-art research facilities and specialist equipment buff.ly/MJblw3l

💷 Equipment Sharing Fund for researchers, PhD students and Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) buff.ly/CmVnWeG

EVENT | Free online workshops at AutumnFest

🎓 Careers, interview skills, shaping policy,
📅 8 - 12 September
💻 Online

Secure your place buff.ly/Uy4PI23

Image of female technician in lab

READ | Defining "research activities"

Kelly Vere MBE, discusses future REF changes and the benefits for the technical community and people who make research possible in this blog.

🔗 Read online buff.ly/ySZSrY3

Today we celebrate two years of impact.

Together with @tech-commit.bsky.social we've continued to champion technical talent, shape national policy, and support organisations

📸 The team behind our learning and development courses, research and policy, events and operations (Credit Alex Wilkinson)

📰 £40k funding for technical apprentices in physics and quantum

@durham-university.bsky.social and University of Manchester have each received £20,000 to develop new technical apprenticeship roles

Supported by @instituteofphysics.bsky.social and #EPSRC

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EVENT | Free workshops for technical professionals in #highered and #research

📅 AutumnFest 8 - 12 Sept
💻 Online
➡️ View full programme and secure you place today buff.ly/LbnGPsp

💬 Research is powered by technical talent — and recognition is finally on the rise.

Read Kelly' Vere's personal career journey and reflections in this article published in Nature Magazine.

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