Supporting the Technician Commitment
We fully support the Technician Commitment and its four pillars of visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability.
We’re proud to present our own action plan, based on these pillars, to benefit technicians, help signatory institutions to implement their own action plans and support employers.
On this page
Support for technicians
Visibility
Awards: To ensure a wide audience recognise the value of technicians, we offer a range of awards available to teams and individuals including the Excellence in Education prizes, Industry Technician of the Year, and Apprentice of the Year.
Networking: Our networks provide opportunities for members to connect with each other face to face and online, with networks based on either regional area or specific subjects. With some funding available for travel, we bring people together to socialise, share ideas and collaborate.
Career development
Funding for professional development: Our Skills Development Grant allows technicians to undertake short to mid-term visits to organisations either overseas or within their country of residence, and our Travel and Training Grant supports technicians to participate in activities such as conferences, training courses and networking events online, at home or overseas. These activities will allow technicians to develop the skills and knowledge they need to elevate their career to the next level.
Discounted training courses: We will help technicians identify high quality training to support their career development goals with our database of peer-reviewed and approved courses. We are working in partnership with HEaTED, the UK’s leading provider of professional development and networking opportunities for the technical workforce, to offer our members discounts on their approved training courses.
Recognition
Professional registration: The Registered Scientist (RSci) and Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) awards recognise technicians’ skills, knowledge and professionalism. These registers provide independent recognition of achieving and maintaining the exacting standards required to join the global community of professional scientists. Find out more with our video guide to professional registration.
Accreditation: As well as providing a clear bespoke route to registered or chartered status for employees, our peer-reviewed accreditation provides employers with the confidence that their training and progression routes are of a recognised high standard. Accreditation helps companies to recruit and retain talented employees who are keen to develop their careers.
Sustainability
Outreach fund: Our outreach fund provides financial support to members, individuals and organisations to run chemistry-based public and schools engagement activities that inspire the next generation to choose chemistry and view a career as a technician in a new light.
Mentoring: We can offer mentors or mentoring opportunities to members of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The aim is to provide professional advice and greater clarity around career goals and networking that will help individuals to understand the opportunities that a career as a technician might offer.
Support for organisations
"Being accredited is highly beneficial for an organisation’s reputation, and accreditation of our scheme for staff development allows (and motivates) staff to attain professional recognition and feel more confident in their roles.
Dr Olga Kuzmina, Imperial College London
"It’s great for students and junior staff to be able to stand out in job hunting and career progression competition. It’s also beneficial for more experienced members of the staff – giving them a feeling of being appreciated and encouraged to undertake a new challenge and receive recognition of their experience and skills."
The Royal Society of Chemistry has a full range of support and services available for organisations with technician employees. Contact us today to find out how we can help you implement your action plan and improve visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of your technicians.
Technician Commitment signatories want to support technicians to get the professional recognition that they deserve. To help, we’re offering a 50% discount on membership fees to signatories that want to fund RSC membership and RSciTech, RSci, CSci and CChem applications for 10 or more of their technicians.
Would you like to receive regular news and updates about technician support from the Royal Society of Chemistry? Become a Technician Representative for your organisation. You’ll act as your team’s point of contact to share the latest updates from the RSC, as well as receiving regular newsletters and invitations to exclusive networking and development events. Email our technicians team below to find out more.
Contact our technicians team
We're here to help. Get in touch with any questions about being a technician or the support services we provide.