Embedded Files
10 July 2025
At Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met), technical careers are being redefined through their longstanding partnership with the National Technician Development Centre (NTDC). By embedding NTDC HETT Framework principles and expertise into institutional strategy, Manchester Met. is not just responding to sector needs - it's setting a new benchmark for structured, sustainable technical career development.
With direct support and strategic guidance from the NTDC, Manchester Met’s Technical Services team has developed bold, forward-thinking Promotion Pathways. This initiative represents a transformative step for the university’s technical community, anchoring progression and professional identity within a national framework of technical excellence.
NTDC-Aligned, Institutionally Informed
NTDC-Aligned, Institutionally Informed
A cross-university team led by Dr Ian Tidmarsh (Deputy Director of Technical Services) and Dr Jane Eagling (Head of Research Infrastructure), delivered a structure that closely aligns with NTDC's national standards in technical promotion pathways and addresses local institutional concerns.
Two Pathways, One Framework
Two Pathways, One Framework
Manchester Met’s Promotion Pathway, underpinned by NTDC principles of clarity, equity, and development, offers two tailored routes for technical staff:
Research Technical Pathway (RTP) focusing on research activities and outputs.
Education Technical Pathway (ETP) A three-year pilot scheme supporting educational delivery and practice innovation.
These pathways embody the NTDC’s commitment to recognising the dual contributions of technical professionals across research and teaching - ensuring progression routes are fit-for-purpose and rooted in organisational need.
National Model, Local Transformation
National Model, Local Transformation
By aligning institutional ambition with NTDC guidance, Manchester Met. is building a future-proof, sector-leading approach to technician careers. The Promotion Pathways are not only a response to internal aspirations - they are a sector-wide signal of what’s possible when technical workforce development is taken seriously and supported with national expertise.
A Blueprint for the Sector
A Blueprint for the Sector
Manchester Met’s collaboration with the NTDC reinforces the importance of national partnerships in delivering local change. As a result, these Promotion Pathways stand as more than a structural reform - it’s a strategic framework for professional growth, sector leadership, and long-term sustainability, designed to make technical careers more visible, viable, and valued.
Page updated
Report abuse