# 18 Breaking Through The Glass Ceiling

Radiography today isn’t what it was 20 years ago - or even 10.
Radiography has transformed.
From AI integration and interventional imaging to advanced practice and digital health, the profession has, and continues to, evolve faster than ever. But while the technology and clinical capabilities have grown, our career frameworks haven’t kept up.

For many radiographers in the UK, Band 7 (a marker of seniority, skill, and leadership) is often reached within 7–10 years of qualifying. But with a potential 30+ years still to work, radiographers can be left wondering:
“What's next?”
The pathway beyond Band 7 is often unclear.

This is the 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟳 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸 or 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 where careers stall not due to lack of ambition, but lack of opportunity and pathway uncertainty.

• Clinical progression beyond Band 7 is often limited, inconsistently defined, and overly reliant on moving into management.
• Roles in research, education, innovation, and consultancy exist, but the pathway is rarely visible or supported.
• Cross-sector opportunities in AI, health technology, industry, marketing, or policy are practically invisible in clinical career structures.

This isn’t just a UK problem.
Globally, radiographers and other AHPs are facing the same ceiling.
Our systems are built to train clinicians, not support long-term, multidimensional careers.

It’s time for that to change.

We must:
• 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 beyond clinical hierarchies
• 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 that blend clinical practice with innovation, academia, entrepreneurship, or leadership
• 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 into industry, digital health, education, consultancy, and policy
• 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, not just in pay bands and job titles, but in impact, learning, and contribution

If the above resonates with you, please complete our short survey and help shape new, visible, and meaningful senior career pathways for radiographers globally.

👉 https://lnkd.in/d4A3e945