A technical services team at the University of Reading is the first professional, technical and operational (PTO) directorate to achieve an Athena Swan award, scoring Silver.
Under the transformed UK Athena Swan Charter, PTO directorates are supported on a pilot scheme to apply for the award previously only available to academic departments.
Participants in the pilot are supported to adopt the new framework for PTO staff and offered networking and feedback opportunities to ensure the framework meets the needs of PTO directorates.
The University of Reading’s Technical Services department was commended for gender equality work including increasing representation of female technicians, reducing gendered occupational segregation in teaching and research activities and the development of a clear career pathway for technical staff.
