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Higher Education Technician Takeover Summer 2026
Outreach opportunity for UK technical professionals
Inspire the next generation of technicians at a Higher Education Technician Takeover week at the Science Museum, London, summer 2026.
This high-profile outreach and careers event will bring together 50 UK technical professionals who work in science, encouraging secondary school age students to choose a future technical career in science.
Technical professionals with a passion for outreach are encouraged to volunteer throughout the four-day week. We're looking for a diverse range of individuals who have come from a range of career paths and disciplines.
Everything you need to know:
- Location: The Science Museum, David Sainsbury Gallery, London.
- When: Dates to be confirmed in June or July 2026. The dates with the broadest range of expertise and disciplines will be selected (Please refer to expression of interest form below)
- Timings: The four-day event will run from Tuesday - Friday between 10am - 2pm (The specific week will be finalised based on the level of interest)
- The event is expected to welcome around 2,000 - 3,000 secondary school age students
- School visits during the takeover week can be from across the UK, but likely to be schools based in south of the country
- Volunteers can express their interest for one, or all four days
Benefits of taking part
- Help shape a future and have engaging conversations with young people about your technical career
- Promote your institution, team or technical project
- Collect evidence for your personal career development and institution’s Technician Commitment action plan
I’m interested – what next?
Click here to complete form: Higher Education Technician Takeover - Expression of Interest – Fill in form
Timelines
- Register your interest by 7 December 2025
- Selected participants will be contacted by 24 January 2026
- A virtual briefing meeting will be held week commencing the 9 February 2026 for all confirmed participants.
Contact Jo Hartley-Metcalfe at jo.hartley-metcalfe@itss.org.uk
This event is delivered by the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy in collaboration with The Gatsby Foundation