Marvin OnumonuLoughborough University has been awarded £20,000 to fund a new physics technical apprentice post, aiming to bring in younger workers to the field.
The money came from the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy (ITSS), which split £60,000 between Loughborough, the University of Exeter and Northumbria University.
Recent data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) found 45% of technicians supporting physics at UK universities were aged 51 or over, raising concerns about the future pipeline of technical skills in the sector.
The ITSS, backed by Research England, partnered with the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to open up more physics apprentice roles across the country.
Julie Turner, strategic scientific technical lead at Loughborough University, said: “It is wonderful to see our technical tutors coming together to put in a successful bid to ITSS for a Physics apprentice to join our successful Loughborough University technical apprenticeship scheme.
“The Loughborough technical apprenticeship scheme is co-led by technicians across the university and is attracting and inspiring new and diverse colleagues into technical careers.
“ITSS is empowering technicians to play a strategic role in the scheme’s success.”
Dr Kelly Vere, director of the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy and programme lead for the technician commitment, said: “We are excited to invest in young technical talent to accelerate the number of technical apprentices being recruited into Physics Technical Apprentice positions.”
