Following on from our successful Technical Services Conference in 2016 in Penryn we enjoyed another hugely successful Conference this year at the University of Exeter, St Luke’s campus on 6 Jul 17.
This one day conference, hosted by Technical Services at the University of Exeter, provided technical staff with a valuable and rewarding experience, where speakers, sessions and workshops were tailored specifically for technical staff. There were plenty of opportunities for networking with University technical, staff from Bristol, Brunel, Cardiff, Brunel and Sheffield.
Workshops included Centrifuge Maintenance Clinic, A Healthy Laboratory -What does this mean for me?, Coaching and Mentoring- what’s the fuss?, You and your career-how are you doing? and Procurement and future Finance at Exeter, amongst just a few. These workshops were created through Technician feedback and run by Technicians so that key information and real understanding of the issues Technicians face each day, could be discussed.
The welcome speaker was Dr Gail Reeves, Head of Technical Services who introduced our sponsors and Key speaker Al Cropp from Zeiss. For the first time since starting the Technical Services Conference, we were proud to welcome Professor Sir Steve Smith our Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter.
‘The most important thing that I want to do this morning is simply to thank you for the contribution that you make and the outstanding support that you provide within your institutions. I hope that colleagues from outside Exeter will forgive me in saying that I believe that we have the most outstanding technical services teams in the country and as Vice-Chancellor I am extremely proud of that and of everything that you do.’
With Technicians in mind Prof. Sir Steve Smith went on to highlight career progression and how the University is actively supporting its technicians.
‘We are committed to actively promoting and supporting the professional development and recognition of our scientific staff through professional registration, through initiatives such as the ‘Corporate Affiliates’ scheme of the Institute of Science and Technology – providing colleagues with access to enhanced continuing professional development opportunities.’
‘We also have institutional membership with HEaTED, which again provides professional development opportunities as well as professional registration. At Exeter, it’s great to see that we already have: 5 Chartered Scientists; 8 Registered Scientists; 1 Fellow; 21 Members of professional bodies, and many other colleagues currently working towards professional registration.’
The Vice-Chancellor’s speech was met with applause and a real sense of achievement throughout the audience. The feeling of ‘Technicians Make it Happen’ was truly evident by the enthusiastic discussions afterwards.
The event was sponsored by: VWR, Eppendorf, Triple Red, Sartorius, Labster, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Astell Scientific, Seal Analytical, Alpha Laboratories, Scientific Laboratory Supplies, Brooks Life Science Systems, IKA, Sarstedt, Science Council, Institute of Science and Technology, HEaTED, Gatsby: Technicians Make It Happen, Institute of Animal Technology, Royal Society of Biology, Procurement and Future Finance, Health Safety OH and Wellbeing.
The overall feeling and feedback from Technicians is that the Technical Services Conference 2017 was a highly successful and valuable event and everyone is looking forward with anticipation to the next event in 2018!
Our next Technical Services Conference will take place on 28 June 2018 at the Forum, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SZ. This event will be open to GW4 (Exeter, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff) and other UK universities technical staff. Details will be published at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/technicalservices/events/ in due course.