All posts by Colin Baines

FSE Technical Apprenticeship Lead

Back to Work as an Apprentice.

Back to the workshop as campus reopens
15 Jul 2020
Technical Apprentice Kerris Boulton provides an insight into working on campus during its phased reopening

As part of the University’s contribution to the fight against the pandemic, the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), based in the John Garside Building, has been open throughout lockdown to provide a home for Covid-19 related research.
When the phased reopening of campus began the Faculty of Science and Engineering started with safely expanding the capacity in the MIB. But, with that more technical support was needed. To fill this need technical apprentice, Kerris Boulton, volunteered to return to work on campus.
“For research to happen equipment needs to function and be safe to operate. If the equipment can’t be used, then the research can’t take place. So, the first thing I did upon my return was to create a procedure for how to get equipment PAT tested and repaired so our research could continue. Since being back I have repaired centrifuges, autoclaves and even calibrated some of the oxygen depletion alarms in the building.
“Being back on campus is great, getting back to some normality has been very beneficial for me and really helped with my wellbeing. There are definitely a lot of changes that are hard to get used to – writing down where you have been, constantly wiping every surface and sanitising your hands. Walking the long way round the building due to one way systems is sometimes hard to follow, especially when you are trying to get things done, but it’s there for a good reason and you just have to be patient and understanding that things will take longer than before.
“Everyone is respectful of the systems in place and people are just genuinely happy to see familiar faces they haven’t seen in a few months. During my first week back myself and a few other people in the building ordered lunch and sat and ate together – although obviously we sat further apart. It reminded me that the University is still a community and I think it’s nice that even with this going on that feeling of belonging and being part of something is still there.”
Kerris has been part of the University’s Technical Apprenticeship Programme as an Apprentice Electronics Support Technician for the last six years providing technical support to students, lecturers and research associates. Having successfully completed her Advanced Apprenticeship and HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering she is now working towards a Degree Apprenticeship in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Apprenticeship Vacancies at The University of Manchester – OPEN NOW

The University of Manchester Technical Apprenticeship Programme in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities was created to help solve the future demand for skilled technical staff across the University by granting young local people entry to employment via well thought out and structured training positions.
The programme is expected to encourage apprentices to develop their careers over time and become analytical scientist/support staff, senior experimental officers, laboratory technicians, technical service managers or project managers, replacing some of the outgoing staff.
The programme of activities needed to be extensive and beyond a ‘standard’ apprenticeship. We recognise young people won’t necessarily know precisely what they want to do. The structure includes continuous rotation through laboratories and workshop facilities throughout their training period. This ensures our apprentices are aware of the whole University operation and are more able to select and be selected for appropriate vacancies as they arise. One of our apprentices is a member of the Institute for Apprenticeships, meeting regularly in London to represent the life of an apprentice.
The programme equips the apprentice with a set of transferable skills that will afford the opportunity to develop a rewarding career as a ‘Specialist Laboratory Support Technician’  upon successful completion of the 4 year apprenticeship. In addition the apprentices are taught essential life skills such as University accounting procedures, interview skills, report writing, people and project management skills. Apprentices are encouraged to network across the Faculties, providing a chance for them to grow their personal networks and maintain contacts throughout their lifetime. Regular ‘get-togethers’ across all the cohorts for peer support and networking are organized centrally to facilitate networking, team building and communication. In addition some apprentices have enjoyed the opportunity to work in Sweden, assisting a research group.
Since the Apprenticeship programme began in 2013, 16 apprentices have secured permanent positions within the University indicating the success of the programmed activities and the quality of education and training received. It is anticipated that all apprentices will secure employment. We understand that on completion of their apprenticeship, some may choose to seek employment elsewhere using their University of Manchester Technical Apprenticeship as a lever. Since we have a massive variety of roles at all levels, we actively endeavor to place our learners within the organization at a point that is acceptable by both apprentice and management.
The University is ambitious, raising our expectations and current targets year on year. These goals cannot be achieved without a significant rise in the professionalism and training of our technical staff. The apprenticeship programme seeks to filter in from the base, continue to educate and train continuously and allow these highly motivated individuals to permeate the entire technical structure, carrying and spreading their enthusiasm as they go. The greatest challenge is keeping everyone motivated and on-message.
Come and join us to start your future career.

VACANCIES for Laboratory and Engineering Apprentices – LIVE Now

The University of Manchester Technical Apprenticeship Programme in Engineering Operations and Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities was created to help solve the future demand for skilled technical staff across the University by granting young local people entry to employment via well thought out and structured training positions.
The programme is expected to encourage apprentices to develop their careers over time and become analytical scientist/support staff, senior experimental officers, laboratory technicians, technical service managers or project managers, replacing some of the outgoing staff.
The programme of activities needed to be extensive and beyond a ‘standard’ apprenticeship. We recognise young people won’t necessarily know precisely what they want to do. The structure includes continuous rotation through laboratories and workshop facilities throughout their training period. This ensures our apprentices are aware of the whole University operation and are more able to select and be selected for appropriate vacancies as they arise.
The programme equips the apprentice with a set of transferable skills that will afford the opportunity to develop a rewarding career as either a ‘Specialist Laboratory Support Technician’ or ‘Specialist Engineering Support Technician’ upon successful completion of the 4 year apprenticeship. In addition the apprentices are taught essential life skills such as University accounting procedures, interview skills, report writing, people and project management skills. Apprentices are encouraged to network across the Faculties, providing a chance for them to grow their personal networks and maintain contacts throughout their lifetime. Regular ‘get-togethers’ across all the cohorts for peer support and networking are organized centrally to facilitate networking, team building and communication.
Since the Apprenticeship programme began in 2013, 9 apprentices have secured permanent positions within the University indicating the success of the programmed activities and the quality of education and training received. It is anticipated that all apprentices will secure employment. We understand that on completion of their apprenticeship, some may choose to seek employment elsewhere using their University of Manchester Technical Apprenticeship as a lever. Since we have a massive variety of roles at all levels, we actively endeavor to place our learners within the organization at a point that is acceptable by both apprentice and management.
The University is ambitious, raising our expectations and current targets year on year. These goals cannot be achieved without a significant rise in the professionalism and training of our technical staff. The apprenticeship programme seeks to filter in from the base, continue to educate and train continuously and allow these highly motivated individuals to permeate the entire technical structure, carrying and spreading their enthusiasm as they go. The greatest challenge is keeping everyone motivated and on-message.
Come and join us for your future career.

Group Meetings Drive Halle Instrument Design

A series of regular management meetings to address new instrument designs being held in Schuster Conference Room, Physics.

This project will design and implement a set of four aurally and visually stimulating electro-mechanical instruments to support the outreach activities of the Hallé. The instruments will be fully programmable and accompanying software will enable a range of levels of interaction and improvisation to be possible.

Halle01