About Us

Digital & Technical Services (DTS)

About Digital & Technical Services

Prior to 2020, DTS existed as two independent and distinct entities, and this followed a series of restructuring exercises that consolidated university operations into centralised teams between 2016 and 2017.

In 2020 DS and TS began working closely together to share cultures, best practice and to drive innovative solutions across the organisation. Later that year, the two services were formally recognised as the unified directorate of Digital & Technical Services (DTS).

Today DTS is recognised as a leading cross-university professional service providing digital infrastructure, platforms, network, cyber security and digital campus support (including specialist AV support on the Digital Services side) as well as student-facing practical, process & making support to a diverse community of learners, researchers & practitioners (on the Technical Services side).

Our Staff

We are a team of information professionals, technology experts, technical specialists, craftsmen and women, enthusiasts and problem-solvers. Our staff are committed to our priorities for action emanating from the University’s “Catalyst for Change” strategic plan and our digital transformation strategy. DTS takes on and resolves specific issues and generalises needs to build new and better services and applications through which we achieve our aims and objectives. DTS is committed to developing staff talent and expertise to benefit Staffs and to enhance our reputation as recognised experts and practitioners in our chosen fields.

Technical Services

TS provides traditional 2D, 3D and contemporary digital fabrication and manufacturing solutions that underpin the core activities of those Awards predicated on 'Making & Doing'. In addition, we provide resources and support for a range of Media & Communication workflows, Digital & Computing facilities, and an extensive range of Science, Healthcare, Clinical, Engineering and laboratory-based technologies.

Working closely with the Schools and our academic partners, TS is responsible for the management and day-to-day running of the specialist laboratories, workshops and making spaces at the University. Our staff possess a high level of technical expertise, knowledge and skill, which enables our students to achieve work of outstanding vision, creativity and innovation.

Digital Services

Digital Services provides centralised IT support and services, enabling learning & teaching and supporting the work done by other Professional Services teams at the University. We have a traditional service desk and first-line support team providing help and advice supported by second-line support teams in networking, infrastructure, platforms, and cyber security. Our IT infrastructure is continually evolving to anticipate the future needs of our stakeholders, enhance the user experience, gather data and increase efficiency in how we operate.

In addition to a strong service delivery function, we also have two teams that support our digital transformation ambition. Our projects team provides business analysis, test and project functions which call on specialist resources from our support teams. Our systems and development team manage procured systems and undertake in-house development for our sector-leading digital coach, Beacon.

Structure & Governance

DTS (141 FTE) is managed through three Heads of Service reporting to the Executive Director. Each provides strategic leadership for a large team(s) or clusters of teams within their given portfolio. Local managers, in turn, report to the Heads and are responsible for day-to-day operations with a defined and agreed budget with autonomy and agreed-on controls to finance and invest in assets, resources and staff to meet the requirements of the University.