Professor Colin Bailey
Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor

The University of Manchester is dependent on the quality of the entire workforce it recruits across the organisation. Every member of staff is critical to the delivery of world-class teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and in addressing the ever-changing challenges we face.

Without the skill, knowledge and dedication of technical staff across the University it will not be possible to teach our students, push the boundaries of knowledge through our research or have an overall beneficial impact on society and the economy.

Our technical roles encompass all operational areas of the University.  Technical Excellence at Manchester has come into being with the mission to support this highly skilled, dedicated and adaptable workforce, as well as attracting new people into this rewarding career.

The University has a clear and firm commitment to support the technical workforce. For the University to be competitive nationally and internationally it must engage with the promotion, development and recognition of its technical workforce to ensure continued success and to retain its talent in this environment of rapid change.

Technical Excellence at Manchester is a networking opportunity specifically for all technical staff.  I encourage all technical members of staff at the University to connect through the network, to support each other and help shape the growing technical role within the University.  As someone who started their career as an apprentice, I am very pleased to be the Academic Technical Champion and fully support this important initiative.

The University has received an Apprenticeships 4 England Bronze award for its Technical Apprenticeship Programme.
The awards recognise outstanding examples of quality, best practice, innovation and excellence in apprenticeship delivery, and offer organisations the chance to be recognised and rewarded for their commitment, hard work, achievements and success in delivering apprenticeship programmes in England.

The Technical Apprenticeship Programme in Engineering Operations and Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities was created four years ago and helps the University manage future demand for skilled technical staff.

Colin Baines, Faculty Technical Resource Manager, said: “There is an amazing transformation in our apprentices as they progress.  Starting as fresh-faced inexperienced, shy individuals, we see confidence grow gradually as they learn both technical and social skills.”

Since the programme began in 2013, the University has recruited 35 apprentices; 22 of those are still in training and seven have secured full time permanent positions within the University.