Talent Report

Talent is a project which leads and influences change to advance status and opportunity for technical skills, roles and careers in UK Higher Education. Led by the Midlands Innovation consortium of eight universities, in collaboration with key stakeholder and industry partners, it represents the largest ever investment into technicians in higher education and research, whose specialist skills often go unrecognised despite the crucial role they play in the success of universities and the growth of the UK economy. As part of this project, they've consulted with researchers, research managers and finance managers, as well as technical colleagues themselves, to explore the ways in which the technician contribution is costed in UK universities and research institutes. Outcomes from the consultation informed a national Policy Commission, chaired by Professor Sir John Holman and published in 2022 (report available internally on the Technicians Teams site)

The recently published Talent Report examines among other things, the contributions technicians make to higher education and research, how technicians are funded, recognition and career pathways as well as the future skills and training needs for the sector. The report "sets out a vision for a future where technical skills, roles and careers are recognised as essential for research, education and innovation within the sector, and therefore, for the sector’s contribution to society as a whole."