Unite is the union for technicians, we are the first union to join the Technicians Commitment. Read more about the Technicians' Commitment here.

Technicians are vitally important to higher education institutions and yet are often ignored or treated like second class workers.” Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary 

As part of this, we have set up a Technicians Forum, looking at increasing visibility, recognition and career progression of technicians as well as implementing the Technicians’ Commitment in HE institutions across the UK and Northern Ireland.

The Survey

First ever survey of higher education technicians reveals that poor pay, high workloads and a lack of career progression are top workplace concerns.

The survey was opened from 8 September to 17 October 2025 with over 950 Unite members in higher education responding.

Following the publication of the survey results, we met with Kelly Vere, Director for the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy and the Technician Commitment. We have now agreed a joint communication from Unite and the Technician Commitment in response to the results. Please click on the link to read the joint communication in full. 

Survey results

In terms of workplace priorities, pay was the top focus, with workload and career progression close behind.

  • 52% highlighted pay as their highest priority.
  • 49% say that they have not been offered any specialist technical training in the last two years.
  • 63% said that they had not been named in grant applications and published research.
  • 74% of respondents indicated that there is no transparent technical pathway in their institution.
  • 47% say that the contributions of technical staff are not visible and recognised at their institution, 33% said they were and 19% said ‘I don’t know.’
  • 62% responded that that the local implementation of the Technician Commitment was more of a tick box exercise with no meaningful benefits in practice.  

When asked about whether technical staff have the opportunity to be part of institute level decision making bodies, such as the University Council?

  • 46% said they did not know about this, with 26% saying they did not have the opportunity, 28% saying ‘no’.

When asked about applying for Professional Registration;

  • 36% of respondents said that they would consider this;
  •  14% already have this;
  • 28% said no and;
  •  21% have never heard of it.

Job roles:

Members responding overwhelmingly described their job role as technical (87%). Within this description there was a range of specific job types with the largest number of responses indicating Lab Technician, Technical Manager or supervisor roles (34%). In terms of which faculty worked in the largest proportion identified Medicine and Biosciences (28%) followed by science (24%).

In terms of understanding the spinal point at which job grade sits within the JNCHES spine 86% response that they were aware of this. Of those respondents identifying local grades the majority indicated that they were Grade 5 with the next highest reporting as Grade 6. In terms of contract type, 57% of those responding said that they were on a permanent contract with 34% on an open-ended contract.