The Henry Royce Institute has been successfully reaccredited to the national Technician Commitment, receiving recognition for the significant progress it has made in supporting its technical community across the four core themes of Visibility, Recognition, Career Development, and Sustainability.
The Technician Commitment is a university and research institution initiative, led by a steering board of sector bodies, hosted by the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy. Universities and research institutes are invited to become signatories of the Technician Commitment and pledge action to tackle the key challenges affecting their technical staff.
The review panel commended Royce for establishing new initiatives such as a dedicated technical newsletter, enhanced training opportunities, and the creation of new awards with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Career development was highlighted as a particular strength, including the establishment of a National Technical Platform for Materials Innovation led by Royce and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The panel also welcomed early progress in sustainability, noting the introduction of apprenticeships and placements, as well as technicians’ growing involvement in outreach to inspire the next generation.
Looking ahead, Royce’s new 36-month action plan includes expanding recognition for technical staff, particularly through fair attribution in publications and showcasing contributions at national events, and progression of professional development initiatives for the technical community.
The panel concluded that Royce’s submission “clearly demonstrates the value placed on the technical community” and congratulated the Institute for its strong progress and forward-looking ambitions. In recognition of this achievement, Royce will receive an Award of Impact at the national Technician Commitment Signatory Event in London in November 2025.
Royce CEO, Prof David Knowles, commented:
“We are delighted to be reaccredited to the Technician Commitment, which reflects the vital role our Research Technical Professionals play in delivering world-class research. Our technical community is at the heart of Royce’s mission, providing the expertise and skills that underpin innovation in advanced materials through delivery of our capabilities. This recognition highlights our progress, while also setting out clear opportunities to support our technical colleagues further. We look forward to building on this momentum and ensuring that technicians continue to thrive across the Royce partnership.”
