May Newsletter Introduction – Technical Excellence @ Manchester

On behalf of the Steering Group, I would like to welcome you to the inaugural newsletter for Technical Excellence at Manchester (TEaM)!

TEaM is a cross-Faculty network, created by technical staff for technical staff, and is open to all staff members with a technical role. It has been estimated that across the University, there are likely to be more than 600 members of staff with technical roles that cover a diverse range of skills, specialisms and job titles; based on the responses to the pre-TEaM launch questionnaire, which was completed by 298 people, over 55 different job titles were associated with technical roles.

Since its launch in December 2016, 256 people have now subscribed to the TEaM email distribution list**, we have had 3 workplace tours, including the ‘Biological Services Facility’ (BSF), the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Manchester Museum, which have all been extremely popular and we have had the first of our networking/coffee morning events, which was attended by over 80 staff. To quote Michele Jennae*, “Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities…. Networking means the act of exchanging information with people who can help you professionally.” To this end, the newsletter will support the TEaM mission statement,

‘To raise the profile of technical staff, recognise their contribution to the University and empower them to develop their careers’ .

TEaM will provide technical staff with the opportunity to learn about training and development opportunities on and off-campus, share experiences and knowledge and promote career pathways and career opportunities.

To fully achieve this, we need you to help shape the future of this exciting initiative. Maybe you are aware of an event or training opportunity that you would like to share, maybe you would like to share your career history &/or secondment experience and your future plans, or maybe you are a budding artist and would like to submit a ‘topical’ cartoon or illustration? We are looking for contributions to bring together technical staff from all areas of the University, to share our achievements and celebrate our vital contribution to teaching and research within our University and beyond. For further editorial details, please see the TEaM blog (http://blogging2.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/team/) .

Just one final thought…….

“If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.“ Chinese Proverb

Rae Watkins (Chair)

* Artuitive & Career coach, Communications & Connection Strategist

** technical-excellence@listserv.manchester.ac.uk