The November 2025 Employee Survey showed that career development is a clear priority for colleagues at Bath. Just 47% of respondents felt their career development aspirations were being met at the University, with this concern particularly evident among professional services colleagues. In the 157 comments about career progression, colleagues asked for clearer progression and promotion routes, alongside stronger support for career growth across professional services.
The University already offers a range of development resources and new initiatives, and local projects are continuing to expand the ways staff can build skills, explore career options and progress within Bath. Here you’ll find practical tips and resources to support your career development and growth.
Central offer and resources
One to one coaching
The University’s coaching service gives you space to think, gain clarity and decide on your next steps. Unlike a workshop with a set curriculum, coaching is shaped around your own goals and is available to all University staff.
Find out more about our coaching service
Career activism
A one-hour webinar to help you understand what motivates you in your career, plan your next steps and explore options for development. Book your place on the December webinar via ESS.
To support you further, check out our dedicated career activism playlist, which includes articles, podcasts, exercises and videos to browse through at your own pace.
Apprenticeships
A range of funded development opportunities to help colleagues build new skills, gain recognised qualifications and support career progression. Programmes are available across a variety of subjects and levels, and apprenticeship levy funding can be used to invest in your professional growth while you work.
Find out more about apprenticeships
Self-development resources
- The Development Toolkit- includes e-learning, skills-bites, articles and workbooks. It is useful for bite-sized learning, exploring new topics and refreshing your skills.
- LinkedIn Learning - provides longer courses and a helpful AI coach tool for skills practice.
Leadership development
Professional Services staff can access leadership development through the Aspiring Managers Programme for those considering a move into management, and the Confident Manager Programme for experienced managers looking to strengthen their leadership skills.
Places on both programmes are allocated through line manager nomination, and interested staff should speak to their manager about their development goals.
What's new?
Professional skills workshops
A series of three-hour, face to face workshops available to all staff on topics ranging from assertiveness and confident conversations to Generous Citizenship and customer service. We will continue to develop our offer, so please keep an eye on our webpages for future updates.
Find out more about these workshops
Technician Progression Framework
The University has approved the launch of a new framework for technical staff who directly support research and teaching, implemented from 2026/27. The framework addresses the need for clearer and more transparent career pathways, recognises technical expertise and supports professional growth. For more information, please visit the Technicians Progression: Information and Guidance Hub.
There are also many initiatives taking place across the University to support career development and progression:
- The Cross-Faculty Mentoring scheme is designed to foster professional growth and career development for professional services colleagues across the Faculties and School. Opportunities are available to become a mentor or a mentee.
- The Faculty of HSS has created a dedicated SharePoint page on career progression routes for professional services staff, including staff profiles, a career routes tool and role overviews, and has introduced 10 days of CPD for all staff.
- The School of Management’s Summer Skills Programme provides informal, practical learning opportunities for Professional Services colleagues.
Employee Survey action plans show teams across the University are taking practical steps to support career growth, including mentoring, skills-sharing, job shadowing, clearer career pathways and improved access to development resources.
Coming soon: Professional Services Career E-Modules
Designed to support career reflection and planning, three e-modules will be released over the coming months, each exploring a different aspect of career development.
The activities in the e-modules are designed to be individual and reflective. You may find it useful to talk them through with a trusted friend or colleague, or use them as part of a coaching conversation. Free coaching is available to staff via our Staff Coaching Service.