By Sarah Jenkins, Sarah Jenkins Consulting

The 2025 external evaluation of UK RAS STEPS provided clear evidence that investment in Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) is delivering measurable national benefit. It also highlighted strategic opportunities for future funding, policy alignment and long‑term sustainability. The evaluation findings demonstrate that UK RAS STEPS is establishing the foundations of a stronger, more connected and more capable robotics technical workforce across the UK.

Impact on national technical capability

In 2025, UK RAS STEPS supported a wide range of technical training, placements and development experiences that significantly strengthened the skills base of the UK’s robotics RTP workforce. RTPs consistently reported that these opportunities had immediate and meaningful workplace impact:

“The course has had a direct impact on my role… deepening my understanding of machinery safety regulations, risk assessments, and safety‑related control systems.”

“This will aid me in the evaluation of robotics handling systems for our core lab.”

The programme achieved an exceptionally high Net Promoter Score of 79.1 from RTPs, indicating a level of satisfaction typically associated with ‘outstanding’ provision.

Policy and institutional relevance:

• Investment in technical capability delivers rapid returns in research productivity, equipment utilisation and technical workforce readiness.

Building a connected technical workforce

The evaluation found that UK RAS STEPS is significantly reducing institutional and disciplinary silos, a significant barrier to innovation. This happened through in-person events and the online Circle Platform community. RTPs repeatedly emphasised the importance of access to peers.

“In universities… there is no networking outside your niche. UK RAS STEPS is different because it’s a genuine network.”

“UK RAS STEPS gives me the ability to talk to other people who are in my technical field… something I don’t have internally.”

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have emerged as a successful mechanism for collaborative problem‑solving and sector‑wide knowledge sharing:

“[The SIG] has been a good way to connect with people who have the same technical challenges.”

Policy and institutional relevance:

• National networks accelerate dissemination of best practice and reduce duplication of investment.
• Technician‑led networks strengthen local capability, thereby improving institutional research performance.

Increasing visibility of technical staff

Recognition emerged as a powerful outcome. Access to conferences, awards and public engagement directly improved morale, retention and professional identity among RTPs. In some cases these experiences increased institutional understanding of the importance of RTP contributions.

“[UK RAS STEPS] has opened doors for technicians to attend events… something that felt out of reach before.”

“Now I see myself as listened to… you feel more valued.”

“The awards were great… it shows someone values us.”

Policy and institutional relevance:

• Recognition improves retention in a workforce vulnerable to loss.
• Strengthens institutional culture and workforce wellbeing, directly supporting the UK’s RAS research capacity.

Progress on technical career pathways

RTPs expressed strong demand for structured progression routes that reflect the specific nature of their roles and are not ‘quasi-academic’. In 2025, UK RAS STEPS initiated work with national partners such as NTDC and the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy to address this demand.

“Having a proper pathway is really important as it can help stop a brain drain of technicians to industry.”

“The main problem is the lack of defined career pathways… if you can’t see how to progress you might not stay.”

Policy and institutional relevance:

• A national RTP career pathway is emerging as a priority area requiring cross‑sector leadership and sustained investment.
• A structured pathway supports retention, mobility and long‑term workforce planning within institutions and across the RAS sector.

Strategic opportunities

The evaluation outlined several opportunities to grow and sustain the impact of UK RAS STEPS.

Strengthen and sustain programme infrastructure and staffing

Long-term investment and additional administrative staff capacity would reduce operational risk and increase delivery. A well‑resourced, sustained national platform is essential for delivering consistent, scalable support across the UK.

Expand high‑value knowledge‑exchange activities

Regular, structured knowledge exchange reduces duplication, accelerates innovation, and strengthens research infrastructure. In 2025, UK RAS STEPS identified a model for knowledge-exchange workshops that was exceptionally well received and drove cross‑institutional learning.

Investment in sustainable career pathway development

A national technician career pathway aligns directly with government priorities on skills, productivity and research excellence. RTPs want tools and frameworks to support their own progression, including CPD templates and case studies for themselves, and guidance and frameworks for their institutions.

Develop the Circle Platform into a long‑term digital community

A sustainable digital community can maintain national connectivity beyond the current UK RAS STEPS funding period. RTPs see strong potential for the Circle Platform but note that early‑stage moderation and targeted spaces (e.g. for early‑career technical staff) will be key to driving engagement.

Conclusion: A high-impact, valued programme

UK RAS STEPS is delivering substantial benefit in a short period of time, and its model is both scalable and sustainable, if adequately supported. The programme is strengthening UK robotics infrastructure, building a confident and capable technical workforce, and fostering national collaboration in a sector crucial to technological innovation.

From an institutional perspective, UK RAS STEPS builds technical capability without adding local administrative burden, enables collaboration across institutions, and strengthens research delivery through practically applied skills. For institutional leaders concerned with research quality, infrastructure value, and staff retention, UK RAS STEPS  should be considered as a strategic asset, rather than a peripheral or one-off initiative.

With targeted support, expanded capacity and coordinated sector‑wide alignment, UK RAS STEPS is well‑positioned to drive further progress in 2026/27 and contribute significantly to the UK’s research and innovation strategy.