X-CITED Events & Development Opportunities

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Coming in 2026 – scroll for all options

X-CITED Knowledge Exchange Placement (KEP) Fund 

The GW4 X-CITED Knowledge Exchange Placement (KEP) Fund is available for Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) working within Engineering & Physical Science (EPS) across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter Universities.

This fund of up to £600 should be used by RTPs to engage in knowledge sharing activities with colleagues from other GW4 institutions to develop connections, gain new knowledge and develop technical skills. 

Activities may include but are not limited to:  

• Hands-on experience using research equipment or software, either at GW4 premises or with a GW4 partner 

• Visits to GW4 institutions housing bespoke equipment to obtain informal training 

• Attendance at seminars within the technical remit (at GW4 institutes)

• Attendance at small hackathons, workshops or webinars (at GW4 institutes)

• Attendance at small technical community collaborations or events (at GW4 institutes)

This fund can be used to cover the costs of travel to & from GW4 institutions, accommodation (if required) and TRAC facility use (if required) 

For more details and to apply, please complete the X-CITED KEP Fund Application Form and email this to x-cited@gw4.ac.uk 

(Only staff in a technical role/pathway or aligned with a RTP role (for guidance on eligibility please contact x-cited@gw4.ac.uk) are eligible for this funding. PGRs and PDRAs are not eligible.)

X-CITED Technical Training Fund 

The GW4 X-CITED Technical Training Fund is available for Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) working within Engineering & Physical Science (PSE) across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter Universities.

This fund of up to £2000 per application could be used by RTPs to obtain training in use of shared, high-value or bespoke equipment or skill development, where the training does not exist within GW4 institutions; activities may include but are not limited to:  

• Equipment manufacturer training courses 

• Third party training courses  

• Bespoke software courses or training 

• Visits to institutions outside GW4 housing equipment to obtain training 

• Certified training courses relating to research equipment use  

This fund can be used to cover the costs of registration of training courses, travel to & from training courses and accommodation (if required).

For more details and to apply, please complete the X-CITED-Technical-Training-Fund-Application and email this to x-cited@gw4.ac.uk 

(Only staff in a technical role/pathway or aligned with a RTP role (for guidance on eligibility please contact x-cited@gw4.ac.uk) are eligible for this funding. PGRs and PDRAs are not eligible.)

Health and safety and influencing safety culture for RTPs

X-CITED to cover all travel and meal costs.

Health and Safety in the lab/workshop is down to us all. This development day will lay the foundations of basic health and safety for RTPs, followed by a session on influencing safety culture. We will then have a lab tour through two different spaces to allow us to put into practice what we went through in the morning sessions.

What will you gain from this?

The aim is to empower RTPs to take ownership of safety within their spaces, being a respected point of contact for all lab users, and gaining confidence in their ability. We will have open discussions about dealing with hierarchy and conflict, and gain useful tools to utilise going forward to influence safety culture within our workplace.

(Open to all Research Technical Professional (RTPs) within GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter).

Industry Connection Programme: ‘Confidence in Industry Conversations’ Event 

All travel, meals and accommodation will be funded by X-CITED  

The two days will include a day of bespoke training for our Research Technical Professionals (RTPs**) from world renowned facilitator – Sawan Khuri – known for providing expert training in industry conversations and professional skills development – followed by a second day when industry partners are invited into the conversations.

Open to RTPs across GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter), it’s a great opportunity to grow your skills, make new connections and learn more about connecting with business outside of higher education.

This ICP event is aimed at GW4 RTPs who have some experience engaging with industrial colleagues and those with plenty of industrial experience and would like to build their networks. However, it is open to all GW4 RTPs with engineering and physical sciences links.

The Agenda includes:

Day 1:

• Learn the purpose of advertising and promoting your facility to industry

• Discover how to become more visible and gain new contracts

• Interactive work on ‘case studies’ defining customer needs, idea generation and facility solutions

• Build your knowledge on cross-sector collaboration

Day 2:

• Understand the power of networks

• Interactive work on scenarios between RTPs and industry clients

• Industry partner Business show

• Wrap up and prize giving

What will you get out of this?

• Increase confidence to engage with industry – Further develop the skills and self-assurance to initiate, lead and sustain meaningful conversations with industry partners.

• Gain practical communication tools – Learn how to articulate technical expertise, translate academic capability into industry‑relevant language, and navigate different professional expectations.

• Understand industry perspectives – Gain increased insight into industry drivers, priorities, and decision making—helping RTPs position themselves as valuable collaborators rather than support functions.

• Practise in a supported space – Build the skills you already have during a dedicated training day before putting them into practice with invited industry partners on day two.

• Grow professional networks – Form new connections with RTP peers across GW4 institutions and establish direct relationships with industry contacts.

• Enhance career development – Strengthen transferable skills that support career progression, visibility, and impact—both within academia and beyond.

If you are a GW4 RTP who hasn’t undertaken any industry work in the past, or feel a bit rusty, you might also benefit from our bitesize series coming up in October 2026. 

X-CITED In-person Community Day

Join us in Cardiff for our in-person X-CITED Community event.

Bringing together members of our Communities, as well as other GW4 RTPs, join us for a day of networking, workshops and community activities, designed to knowledge share, connect and create collaborations.

(Open to all Research Technical Professional (RTPs) within GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter).

AI Skills for RTPs

Learn advanced AI tools used by researchers and how these can improve efficiency.

(Open to all Research Technical Professional (RTPs) within GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter).

Coming in 2027

Facility Costing

Gain knowledge of the TRAC system for costing facilities. RTPs will learn skills on how to appropriately register cost of consumables for facilities.

(Open to all Research Technical Professional (RTPs) within GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter).

Managing a Facility

Understand the aspects of running a facility, from budget to staff management. They will also learn the skills required to successfully run a facility.

(Open to all Research Technical Professional (RTPs) within GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter).

Available recordings

• What is Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC)? webinar – email x-cited@gw4.ac.uk to be sent the recording
• X-CITED Digital Training Programme #1: An introduction to prompt engineering for coding – email x-cited@gw4.ac.uk to be sent the recording