NTDC Partner Forum 2026

Technician Takeover

On 16th April, we brought together over 100 technical professionals from our Partner Affiliate Universities for the NTDC Partner Forum, hosted at The University of Sheffield’s impressive The Wave building. This year’s “Technician Takeover” theme set the tone for a day focused on celebrating the diverse roles, skills, and career pathways of technicians across the sector.

The event was made possible thanks to the contributions of our inspiring speakers, engaging poster presenters, dedicated exhibitors, and our key sponsor, RS Group. Throughout the day, the energy reflected a strong sense of community, with attendees describing the forum as "inspiring", "empowering", and "exceptionally welcoming".

From thought-provoking discussions to shared experiences, the forum highlighted not only the impact technicians have, but also the exciting opportunities ahead.

See more details below!

From Apprentice to Head of Technical Services – Power of Collaboration

Jiteen Ahmed (Aston University)

Jiteen Ahmed, Head of Technical Services at Aston University and THE Outstanding Technician of the Year 2025, opened the day with an inspiring account of his journey from apprentice to senior leadership. He shared an honest reflection on his career path, highlighting both the professional and personal challenges he faced along the way, the lessons he learned, and how these experiences ultimately shaped his success. 

Slides available here.

Championing our Technician Champions

Jennie Hibbard, Stephen Reid, Marie Parker, Fiona Keay and Sam Driver (University of Leeds)

Jennie Hibbard introduced the role of Technician Champions at the University of Leeds, before being joined by current and former champions for a panel discussion. Together, they explored how formal appointment through an HR process - with a clearly defined role and dedicated time allocation - enables technicians to actively contribute to initiatives that support and strengthen the wider technical community.

Slides available here.

Technically Speaking: How Technicians Are Shaping the Future of Technical Communication

Bill Surradge (Edinburgh Napier University), Charli Corcoran (University of Stirling), Lee Murphy (University of Edinburgh), and Michael Bayliss (University of Liverpool)

Technicians across the UK are increasingly emerging as influential content creators, using platforms such as social media, blogs, podcasts, and outreach initiatives to share insights, experiences, and specialist knowledge. This session explored the growing role of technicians in technical communication, inspired by the ethos “by technicians, for technicians – and beyond.” The panel discussed their motivations for stepping into content creation and offered practical advice and tips for those looking to start producing their own content, helping to amplify the voices of the technical community. The session was also recorded live by Michael as a podcast episode!

Slides available here.

HEaTED: Train The Technical Trainer Taster

Sam Hansford (HEaTED)

Sam delivered a taster session of HEaTED’s popular ‘Train the Technical Trainer’ course, giving delegates the opportunity to explore and reflect on the key interpersonal and practical elements that underpin effective technical training.

Using a simple yet engaging paper aeroplane demonstration, Sam illustrated how fundamental training principles can be applied across a wide range of situations, showing that even the most straightforward activities can offer powerful learning insights.

Slides available here.

Technician Showcase & Networking

This relaxed, walk-around session gave attendees the chance to meet technicians, explore a wide range of projects, skills, and career journeys, and discover the people behind the work. Visitors were invited to browse posters, hear personal stories, and learn more about the talents and interests within the network.

The variety on display was striking, with exhibits covering everything from innovative projects and career pathways to historical re-enactment and even peregrine falcons - highlighting the breadth and diversity of the technical community.

Thank you to all our poster presenters:

• William Pullen, University of Oxford

• Becky Peel, University of Bristol

• Kat Harris, Imperial College London

• Ferdus Sheik, University of Birmingham

• Gary Pogue & Linda Lightley, Northumbria University

• Dr Olivia Hill, University of Cambridge

• Erin Flanagan, Liverpool John Moores University

• Stephanie Figiel & Rebecca Nelson, Manchester Metropolitan University

• Iyanuloluwa Deborah Olowe, University of Southampton

• Kateryna Taran, Liverpool John Moores University

• Martyn Towner, University College London

• Nina Salman, University of Birmingham 

• Leslie Arkless, University of Leeds

• Sarah Smyth & Sara Croft, University of Derby.

Hidden Heroes: The Critical Role of ETPs in Student Success

Dr Ian Tidmarsh (NTDC), Claire Hills (University of Leeds), Nicky Morgan & Matt Smith (Manchester Metropolitan University)

This session explored the challenges surrounding technical career pathways, highlighting how roles are often not structured into clear, progressive routes for advancement. The lack of defined pathways was discussed as a key barrier to attracting and retaining technical talent, and a contributing factor to the ongoing technical skills shortage in the UK.

A panel of Educational Technical Professionals (ETPs) shared insights into their roles, career journeys, and professional development. They reflected on the impact of their work, offering examples from their own practice to demonstrate how their expertise enhances the student experience and contributes to student success.

Slides available here.