GW4WARD

GW4WARD is an initiative designed to drive forward the professional development of our technical staff across GW4. In line with our institutions’ pledge to the Technician Commitment, GW4 aims to support all our research technical professionals to gain recognition, visibility, and career development opportunities.

Technical staff play a critical role in helping to drive forward our research and innovation programmes. We have around 1300 technical staff across our four institutions, often acting as the linchpin in any University department, operating and maintaining facilities and providing valuable expertise and intellectual input to enable high quality teaching and research.

Our technical staff have also played a key role in responding to the COVID-19 crisis, collaborating to provide vital supplies to key workers and the front-line NHS staff, plus maintaining crucial facilities during lockdown.

Our GW4WARD programme of support comprises of the following:

• GW4WARD Collaboration Fund: This scheme aims to support the development of technical staff across the partnership, offering awards up to £500 for collaborative activities across GW4; for example joint workshops, training on equipment, work shadowing, or visits. There is no closing date – proposals can be submitted anytime. Applications will be assessed by the GW4 Technical Infrastructure and Knowledge Working Group. Find out more here.
• Support for Facilities Management: This activity aims to empower research managers to develop sustainable management of resources, facilitate equipment sharing for researchers from across GW4, and beyond, and attract funding for new instrumentation to maintain and expand the portfolio in line with evolving research agendas.
• GW4 Technical Staff Webinar Series: GW4 aims to encourage collaboration and sharing of best practice across the region by bringing together technical staff and external speakers to discuss key topics in a webinar format. The webinar series launched in January 2021, with guest speakers covering topics such as digital skills, professional registration and the Technicians Commitment. We hope to relaunch the series again soon.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the GW4 Talent and Skills team at talentandskills@gw4.ac.uk.