Technical Communication in the United Kingdom: The Academic and Professional Contexts

Abstract

Although technical communication is an active field of work in the United Kingdom, currently no academic programs are offered in this discipline. Interviews with practitioners, a company owner, and members of the board of the Institute for Scientific and Technical Communicators explore technical communication in the UK, specifically focusing on education and training, professional associations and communities, professional practice, and the future of the discipline. Findings reveal that, without an academic foundation, the profession is relatively unknown and practitioners have qualifications in other, sometimes unrelated, disciplines. While the current labor market is positive, interviewees are uncertain about future developments.