The University of Strathclyde has received a share of £100,000 from the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy to employ a new Physics Technical Apprentice.
Almost half of all technicians involved in physics research and teaching within UK universities are aged 51 or over, a significant challenge for the future of technical skills in this sector.
Targeted investment
This project, which is supported by the Institute of Physics and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), tackles this aging workforce gap through targeted investment in the technical workforce.
Strathclyde is one of five UK higher education institutes which successfully applied for £20,000, as well as the universities of Leicester, Glasgow, Manchester, and York.
Strathclyde Physics Head of Department, Professor Stefan Kuhr, said:
We are delighted to have secured funding for a modern apprentice to join our teaching lab team.
“Our teaching labs are an essential component of training for our undergraduate and Masters students and play a vital role in our engagement with industrial partners and in encouraging school students to continue studying physics.
“We have just completed a £2M refurbishment of our teaching lab to provide a state-of-the-art experience to hundreds of students every year.”
Training opportunities
The successful candidate will be given opportunities to train in areas such as mechanical and electronic engineering, software development and practical lab skills including lasers, photonics and quantum technologies.
Kelly Vere, Director of the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy and University Director of Technical Strategy for the University of Nottingham said: “We are excited to invest a total of £100,000 this year to accelerate the number of technical apprentices being recruited into Physics Technical Apprentice positions.
“Five new technical apprentice jobs will be created as a result, helping to bridge the skills gap within this discipline and create a more sustainable technical workforce and kick-start a new pipeline of technicians stepping into roles which are critical to world-class research and innovation.
“A second funding call will open in early 2025 when we intend to fund a further five apprenticeships within physics from a share of £100,000.”
Diverse workforce
Dr Luke Davis, Joint Head of Research Infrastructure at ESPRC said: “A diverse technical workforce is key to the success of the UK’s research and innovation ecosystem, this pilot initiative within the field of physics will be an ideal test bed to launch similar schemes in the future, if successful.”
This is a two-year programme, with the second funding round opening in early 2025.