Good News Round Up From Manchester Metropolitan University

What made you apply for an apprenticeship?

Amy completed the Level 3 Food Technologist Apprenticeship, “I had a genuine interest in the food industry, having previously completed qualifications in food technology. The food sector also provides a wide range of career opportunities, so this was also a motivating factor.

“My background in customer service aligned well with the student-facing aspect of the role, and the fact the role was based at a university was a huge plus for me, as I knew it would provide a secure, supportive and well-resourced environment in which to learn and develop.”

What did you find most valuable about your apprenticeship?

The appeal for Amy was the ability to develop hands-on skills while working, “My learning style is very practical, so being able to immediately apply the knowledge from my online workshops to real situations in the labs was beneficial for me. This approach not only reinforced my understanding but also built my confidence”.

Amy credits this valuable learning to now having technical responsibility for specific areas within her department, such as managing the British Standard Sensory Analysis Suite and overseeing the specialist software linked to it.

What is your current role and how did undertaking your apprenticeship enable you to secure this role?

Amy successfully applied for the Assistant Technical Officer role in the Nutrition team midway through her apprenticeship.

“The apprenticeship gave me a strong foundation of technical knowledge, industry understanding, and hands-on experience in a working laboratory environment.”

On the job learning enabled Amy to develop experience in lab operations, technical problem-solving, implementing food safety standards and managing equipment.

“All of these skills were essential in demonstrating I was ready for the Assistant Technical Officer Role. The combination of accredited learning and hands-on responsibility gave me the confidence and capability to progress into this permanent position.”

Positive Outcomes for AdvanceHE applicants

Over five years, Technical Services at Manchester Met has challenged the perception that AdvanceHE Fellowship is solely for academics. Working with the National Technician Development Centre and Newcastle University, they have made the Professional Standards Framework accessible to technical staff.

Today, around 30% of Technical Services colleagues hold AdvanceHE accreditation, with 22 more starting in January 2026. In the most recent accreditation outcomes, a further 7 staff achieved Associate Fellowship, and one member of staff became the first within Technical Services to achieve Senior Fellowship. This recognition supports their Education Strategy by enabling technicians to reflect on teaching practice and adapt to student needs.

Colleagues have shared their experience of the process below, plus any advice they have for others who may be considering an application.

Why did you apply?

Leighton Moody, Technical Manager in Digital Arts Innovation, is the first person in Technical Services at Manchester Met to achieve Senior Fellow, “It felt like the natural next step. When I applied for Fellow, no one from the technical team had done it before and the same is true now with Senior. I believe I meet the criteria, and I think it’s important to lead by example and break the mould.”

Associate Fellows Lucy Chambers (Assistant Technical Officer in Biological Sciences) and Jack Wainwright (Technical Officer, Fashion), both commented that the fellowship provides an opportunity to reflect on their roles, and therefore was a reason they applied:

“I applied for the associate fellowship as it seemed like an excellent way to get recognition.” - Lucy

“The application process became a valuable opportunity to reflect on my teaching practice and recognise how I translate my professional experience into meaningful, hands-on learning for students.” - Jack

Rebecca Nelson, Technical Officer in Health & Education, also achieved Associate Fellowship, saying she wanted to apply to gain recognition for the work and commitment invested in higher education teaching and supporting student learning, “Gaining formal recognition for this contribution is both affirming and professionally valuable.”

How did you find the process?

At Manchester Met, colleagues are supported throughout their application via development sessions. Rebecca said, “The two development sessions were particularly helpful, offering clear guidance and providing dedicated time to begin drafting the application. Overall, the experience was constructive and confidence building.”

“Having the sessions where you meet up and write it together were a great way to make sure it got done and also meet new people.” - Lucy

“Once I found my flow, I genuinely enjoyed it. It gave me the space to think more deeply about how I teach within the Manchester Fashion Institute and to celebrate the methods and values that shape my practice. Overall, it was a very rewarding experience.” - Jack

The application is a large piece of work, and so the support sessions can be valuable in guiding you through the various stages:

“It was quite a bit of work. You need to find a mentor, complete an application, which took me a couple of weeks to refine, and, if you choose the dialogue route, practice your dialogue with your mentor before eventually being interviewed by two academics. Your application must meet all the criteria points of the framework, you must evidence everything, and you have to stick to a strict wordcount”- Leighton

Advice

If you are thinking about applying for AdvanceHE accreditation, Jack, Leighton, Lucy and Rebecca have shared some key tips:

• Keep small notes of the teaching-related things you do each day, including photos and emails. Even the things that feel routine can become really valuable when you start writing your application. - Jack

• Attend any sessions that may be offered, they’re really helpful – Lucy

•  Approach the application as an opportunity to reflect meaningfully on your teaching practice and impact and make full use of the support available – Rebecca

• Try not to feel overwhelmed, the process is incredibly worthwhile. It helps you recognise and appreciate the positive impact you make in your role every single day - Jack

• Do it! I learned so much simply by engaging with the process. I’d forgotten many of the things we had achieved over the past three years, so taking the time to reflect was genuinely cathartic and showed me how far we had travelled in a relatively short time. I may be the first Senior Fellow in the service, but I don’t intend to be the only one for long - Leighton

Wet laboratories achieve LEAF Silver Award

Laboratories at Manchester Metropolitan University have been recognised for their exemplary commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Their achievements have been highlighted through the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), a leading programme that benchmarks and encourages best practice in laboratory operations. By adopting sustainable practices, these laboratories have made significant strides in reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, and improving overall environmental performance. This recognition underscores the University’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and demonstrates its leadership in fostering environmentally conscious laboratory environments. The acknowledgement by LEAF serves as an important milestone, showcasing the positive impact that dedicated actions can have on both scientific community and the wider environment.

LEAF contains actions which lab users can take to save vital resources such as plastics, water and energy. Through taking part in the LEAF programme, technical staff have shown their commitment to reducing the carbon emissions and have been awarded Silver.

The laboratories to achieve Silver Certification are:

• Biological Science Research

• Biological Science Teaching

• Chemistry Teaching

• Health & Education

• Nutrition Teaching

• Additive Manufacturing and Hydrogen Technologies

• Core Facilities

• Electrochemistry and Polymer Science

Case studies from the UK Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy Knowledge Exchange Placements

Technicians at Manchester Metropolitan have continued to engage with the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy Knowledge Exchange Placement Programme. The placements have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with technicians acknowledging the valuable networking opportunity, plus the chance to discover any similarities or differences in how both institutions operate.

Two colleagues who attended visits recently have shared their experience.

Jayne

Jayne, a Technical Manager of the Creative Makers team, has always been a creative individual with a degree in Visual Arts from Salford University and experience in fashion. She transitioned from this creative background into a leadership position overseeing workshops in textiles, print, glass, ceramics, embroidery, and more in the Chatham and Lowry buildings. She recently participated in the ITSS placement and has shared her experience of visiting two universities in Switzerland, Zurich and Lucerne which has not only aided her professional work supporting the goals here at Manchester Metropolitan University, but her personal growth.

Where did you apply to go on a Knowledge Exchange Visit and why?

During her role as Technical Manager, the early days came with their challenges, “I struggled with confidence and a bit of imposter syndrome”, feelings of imposter syndrome are human experiences that affect us all.

A turning point for Jayne came when she was paired with a mentor from the University of Zurich during a leadership programme delivered by the Council for Higher Education in Arts & Design. “The support I received from my mentor made a huge difference. It was an experience that inspired me to apply to the placement so I could thank her”. The guidance Jayne received from her mentor laid the foundation for her overcoming imposter syndrome; this was something which played a significant part in Jayne’s leadership development.

When making the application to the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy (ITSS) Knowledge Exchange Placement Programme, Jayne was seeking more than just the average professional development, “I wanted to build my confidence” she declares.

Her placement was a combined visit to two Swiss universities. She spent two days at the University of Zurich, hosted by her former mentor, and three days at Lucerne University, a short train ride away.

During her time in Zurich, Jayne’s mentor went out of their way to make her feel welcome, turning the visit into more than just a professional exchange. She states, “We explored the city together, shared meals at local restaurants, and caught up on the mentoring journey that had meant so much to me”. This balance of professional and personal connection helped foster a warm environment that allowed her to flourish.

She observed how workshops were run in different contexts, how technical staff scheduled spaces, how students accessed specialist facilities, and how day-to-day operations compared with those at Manchester Met. Beyond the observational learning, this visit gave Jayne the chance to reconnect with someone who had been a pivotal part of her leadership development.

What did you gain from the placement and how will you implement this in your day-to-day role?

“The placement didn’t just give me professional insights; it gave me confidence to take on new challenges and trust in myself”.

The ITSS placement proved to be beneficial on both a professional and personal level. Jayne came away with a clearer understanding of how technical practices can be managed in other institutions, gaining insights that she can use to improve her own efficiency within the role.

Perhaps her greatest achievement, however, was the confidence the experience gave her. Travelling alone, navigating between two cities, and engaging with her peers abroad, was a challenge that showed her she was capable of much more than she realised.

How did you find the application process?

“The application was simple, just a few short paragraphs with manager approval. I heard back within a month, then had time to arrange travel and expenses that I later claimed back. I had one main contact to guide me; the process was clear and easy to follow.”

The application process was easy to navigate and was well supported. While there are some administrative details to follow, such as keeping receipts for expenses, the process is straightforward. For Jayne, it was well worth the effort, calling it a “once in a lifetime experience”. It is not every day that you get to travel to a new country, explore a new culture, and learn valuable skills that will remain with you for a lifetime, all in just one application form. Jayne did it, and you can too!

Nick

Nick Hurst is a Technical Specialist in PrintCity. Keen to expand on techniques he uses in his day-to-day role, Nick visited the University of Exeter in August through the ITSS Knowledge Exchange Placement Programme. He has shared his experience of his visit and what he hopes he can implement at Manchester Met, plus tips for colleagues thinking of applying.

Where did you apply to go on an exchange visit and why?

Nick specialises in extrusion 3D printing and 3D scanning technology. There are a variety of 3D scanners at PrintCity, all under the umbrella of surface scanning technology.

Whilst applying for the programme, Nick was involved in the Water Industry Printfrastructure project (WIP), working with United Utilities, Scottish Water and   ChangeMaker3D: “The project is funded by Ofwat and is looking at how to remanufacture obsolete parts within the water industry. My contribution to the project is through reverse engineering – I 3D scan parts and then we 3D print new components for the water industry”.

Nick’s involvement in the WIP project meant he was interested in visiting an institution which could enable him to learn new techniques which he could apply to the project.

“I was quite interested in expanding my knowledge into internal imaging techniques, which led me to find a placement where I could learn about Micro-CT scanning.”

Nick’s line manager sent Nick some suggested places to visit that were based in archaeology. After reaching out to Exeter, he was able to secure a week’s placement in August.

What did you gain from the placement and how will you implement this in your day-to-day role?

“It was a brilliant experience all round. I learnt about various operating procedures for the technology there, including health & safety protocols too.”

There were similarities in the archaeology department, which Nick was able to relate to what he does at Manchester Met.

“I took samples with me on the visit, including concrete printed samples, and parts from the WIP project. I was able to use the technology at Exeter to analyse the porosity of concrete samples. With the WIP parts, I used the technology to get internal measurement data which I could reverse engineer and make new models with – it enabled me to see inside the parts without breaking them up.”

The visit had additional benefits too, “It wasn’t part of the planned activity but the team at Exeter introduced me to a new technique called RTI scanning, which involved changing the light source around an object. It is used to create highly detailed images of the surface of an object.”

Nick took some fabric samples from PrintCity that had been 3D printed to use with this new technique, “It was a low-cost, accessible technology that was really effective, and something I think could be implemented at PrintCity in future.”

How did you find the application process?

“I would suggest to anyone who is interested in applying to reach out to as many institutions as you can. I sent a CV when reaching out via email, so that institutions understood my role background and why I was interested in visiting their facilities”.

The Knowledge Placement Programme provides networking opportunities and the chance to learn how other universities operate, “The visit exceeded my expectations, I learnt a lot in a short space of time. It was a good networking experience as the staff at Exeter asked about Manchester Met and were interested in how we may use technology and 3D printing.”

Find out more about the Knowledge Exchange Placements on the UK ITSS website.

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