Toby Hills Wins Prestigious Papin Prize at HETS 2025

Toby Hills, Senior Technician – Immersive & Virtual Production at Norwich University of the Arts, has been named Best Newcomer and awarded a prestigious Papin Prize during the UK Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS) 2025 held this week.

HETS is organised by the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy in partnership with Midlands Innovation and sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The event recognises and celebrates the vital contributions of technical staff across the higher education sector.

Toby began his career at Norwich after graduating with a degree in Film and Moving Image. Now serving as a Senior Technician, he supports students and staff in exploring cutting-edge creative technologies—including real-time workflows, virtual sets, and advanced lighting systems.

With a professional background as a gaffer and director of photography, Toby has worked on feature films, documentaries, and music videos. His role at Norwich spans technical setup, equipment maintenance, set-building, and mentoring—providing hands-on support that bridges traditional filmmaking with emerging virtual production practices.

Launched in 2015 by Midlands Innovation and the University of Nottingham, the Papin Prizes are named after pioneering technician Denis Papin and were created to celebrate the often-unsung contributions of technical staff in higher education.

The Best Newcomer category recognises a member of technical staff who has embarked on a technical career within the past two years and shown exceptional promise.

Toby stood out among nominees from across the UK for his innovative approach, technical expertise, and ability to elevate learning through immersive technologies.

Speaking about his award, Toby said:

“It’s an honour to be recognised at a national level. I’m passionate about helping students realise their creative visions using emerging technologies, and this award is a reflection of the brilliant technical community we have at Norwich.”