Brunel University London is a signatory to the Technician Commitment.
This is a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council, supported by the Gatsby Foundation, to help address key challenges facing technical staff and the institutions they critically support.
The commitment comes at a key time as the demand for technicians is increasing. More than 1.5 million technicians currently work in the UK, a figure expected to rise by around 70,000 each year. Vice-Chancellors and Directors of Research Institutes from across the UK have recognised the need to ensure the sustainability of technical skills by safeguarding and developing people and skills.
The Technician Commitment will ensure greater visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians across all disciplines at Brunel.
We recognise the significant and valuable contribution that technicians make to our education and research success. Technicians play a key part in maintaining and enabling academic environment for staff and students, and contributing to a positive student experience.
Five key areas of our commitment
Visibility
Ensure that all technicians within the organisation are identifiable and that the contribution of technicians is visible within and beyond the institution
Recognition
Support technicians to gain recognition through professional registration
Career Development
Enable career progression opportunities for technicians through the provision of clear, documented career pathways
Sustainability
Ensure the future sustainability of technical skills across the organisation and that technical expertise is fully utilised
Evaluating Impact
Regularly assess the impact of actions taken in support of the Commitment to ensure its effectiveness