Flagship tech training scheme celebrates year of driving opportunities

A flagship £3million programme upskilling technicians is celebrating its first anniversary after a year of driving new opportunities in research, innovation and knowledge exchange.

The Technical Platform for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (T-PIKE), launched in May 2025, has spent its first 12 months moving from ambition to action, supporting skills development, leadership and collaboration across the Eastern Region.

Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), alongside industry and institutional partners, the initiative was designed to strengthen the role of technical staff in delivering research and impact.

Creating opportunities 

T-PIKE has focused on practical delivery, piloting new approaches and creating opportunities for technicians to lead projects and engage directly with external partners.

A major strand has been investment in training aligned to EPSRC priority areas, including AI, digitisation and engineering net zero.

Technical colleagues have taken part in knowledge exchange workshops, leadership development and specialist training, including a three-day Data Science and AI course delivered at Essex in spring 2026.

'Experienced support'

Phil Wilson, T-PIKE Programme Manager, said: “T-PIKE has enabled technician-led engagement and experience through direct access to project funding and experienced support.”

At Essex, the programme has backed technician-led knowledge exchange projects with external organisations, funded visits to laboratories to share sustainable research practices, and supported the development of educational resources linked to school curricula.

Additional funding has enabled travel, training and early-stage innovation.

The programme has also begun testing new ways of creating time and space for innovation, including piloting recruitment and backfill models.

The University is now recruiting Technical Development Assistants in Life Sciences, with further roles planned in areas including library services and psychology.

'Sustainable models' 

Chris Spice, T-PIKE Co-Investigator and technical lead, said: “These pilots are helping to test more sustainable models for supporting technical careers and leadership, giving entry routes into the technical career and developing the skills and opportunities for those already within it.”

Over its first year, T-PIKE has also strengthened the voice and visibility of technical professionals, with increased involvement in advisory groups, external engagement and sector-wide discussions. Chris Spice is leading delivery of the University’s Technician Commitment action plan as part of this work.

Develop issues

Looking ahead, the programme will mark its anniversary with the T-PIKE Challenge Lab on 14-15 May at Essex, delivered in collaboration with Railscape.

The event will bring together technical staff, academics and industry partners to tackle challenges and develop ideas with the potential to grow into funded knowledge exchange projects.

As it enters its second year, T-PIKE is set to build on its early momentum, strengthening the role of technical professionals as leaders, collaborators and drivers of innovation at Essex and across the wider sector.