Early Career Network

Engaging with our members who are in the early stages of their career is vital to the future of our member networks. One of the great ways that we achieve this is through our Early Career Network, previously known as the Younger Member Network.

Anyone who joins the Royal Society of Chemistry as a member and considers themselves in the early stages of their career (regardless of whether they are in academia, industry, teaching, at university, full-time work, returning to a career after a break, or have changed their career) is considered part of this network, and is welcome to attend any of the events and activities.

The network is member-led and the activities and events that the network offers are organised by our active and enthusiastic Early Career Network Representatives.

To date, our representatives have done a brilliant job in encouraging our members in the early stages of their career to get involved in activities that progress both their own and other members’ personal and professional development. However, the network has not developed consistently in all areas and, as a result, not all of our members in the early stages of their career benefit from it.

We sought your feedback and agreed that we need better ways to support and engage early career members to integrate appropriately with our other networks and, over the last year, we have reviewed the network.

As part of the extensive consultation process, members helped us to identify the main purposes for the Early Career Network:

• Networking opportunities with those at a similar career stage
• Opportunities to develop communications skills, both informally and in a formal conference setting
• Activities that provide a safe environment to develop these skills with peer-to-peer support
• Provide a better bridge between university ChemSoc activities to the stage where members feel they are able to fully engage with Interest Groups, Divisions, and with Local Section committees, as many of these networks currently struggle to engage younger members

What’s more, we hope that the peer-to-peer support provided through this network will support the diversity of our members. That includes those following a career break, members who have or are seeking to change career direction, as well as more broadly supporting diversity in our networks and in our members’ careers by providing valuable and relevant opportunities to everyone.

Rejuvenating the network

We are in the process of making some changes to the network so that it becomes an inclusive network for anyone who considers themselves in the early stages of their career, and who feels they would benefit from networking within their peer group whilst forming connections with others who are further ahead in their career, whilst in a friendly and accessible environment. This may include members in industry, teachers, students, academics, as well as members who are returning to work or study following a career break, or those changing career path.

Early Career Network Committee

We will be introducing an Early Career Network Committee to oversee activities that support early career members, including:

• agreeing funding levels for Early Career Network events
• discussing matters and identify areas of development relating to member engagement with the network, and members in the early stage of their career with other networks
• suggesting and identifying potential joint activities across the regions
• acting as a point of contact for Royal Society of Chemistry staff to consult on products and services they are looking to develop for members in the early stages of their career.

This committee will be made up of the nine Early Career Network Representatives who sit on the Regional Steering Groups, and an additional three members from our membership. We will be advertising for nominations for this committee in RSC News in the upcoming months.

We are also looking to expand our network of Early Career Network Representatives, so if you are interested in supporting the organisation of activities and events for members in the early stages of their career, we would love to hear from you.

For more information about the committee, becoming a representative, or to find out who the representatives are in your region, visit our network pages.