Research Communications and Engagement Officer Review

Item: Research Communications and Engagement Officer at Manchester Metropolitan University
Rating: 3.7
Author: Anonymous

at Manchester Metropolitan University

Graduate Scheme

Digital Marketing, PR and Communications

Manchester

Review Submitted: November 2026

Overall Rating

3.7 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

3.3/5 - Overview of the Role

4/5 - Experience & Company Culture

4/5 - Recommendations & Advice

Overview of the Role

Overall, how would you describe your experience at Manchester Metropolitan University?

It was a great experience. It really gave a lot of room for development and opportunity to make the role my own. I managed to get a lot done in a short space of time, my only issue would be that it wasn't long enough. However, it was organised well, and tasks were planned out that kept me busy throughout. My role wouldn't exist outside of the scheme, so the work was generated for me which meant I had a lot of freedom, but also meant that it didn't feel entirely meaningful to my team. However, I felt that, because I was responsible for my own work that would be published and viewed by staff, it did have value and meaning to me, and helped me to develop my skills. I really enjoyed some of the tasks, and getting involved in other projects that I hadn't planned on being involved in, and also all the interns in the department maintained regular meetings, which was very comforting and should be encouraged more.

What are the main responsibilities of the role and which elements of the role do you enjoy the most?

I was responsible for creating digital content and communications for 5 teams in the R&I department. That ranged from filmed interviews with academics, recorded voiceover presentations, videos for post-event intranet content, webpage alterations, and more. It was all varied and tested me in different areas and helped me to improve through doing. The thing I enjoyed the most was the creativity within editing videos and creating presentations. This creation of digital content was new to me, and something that I picked up and made my own, learning on the job. It was really enjoyable, and achieved good results. I also got involved with events put on by another team, throughout the Festival of Research. The highlight was the Research Slam, which was an amazing event, and I was lucky enough to be apart of it. I was trusted with gathering content for it, which was then used on the intranet page. This was a montage of the performances and an interview with the winner, which I took responsibility for, intersplicing her performance with the interview to create something that represented her amazing performance and meaningful research. That was my proudest moment.

To what extent does your role give you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and feel valued by your team?

2/5

I worked across four or five different teams, centred within one team. Although I felt welcomed within the team and built up good relationships with the team members, their work was almost completely separate to mine. That meant that I worked mostly alone. Although my tasks meant that I created resources for my team, I didn't feel it was going to effect much of their work. That being said, I do feel like I had the chance to complete work that they do not have the time to do, so I felt of value in that respect. My work with other teams had a similar impact, however I would not sit with them in the office, so would not see them as much which made it feel even more separate. However, that work was more meaningful. The work on the events, however, did feel meaningful and impactful as they needed as much help as possible to deliver the event and content around it.

How does your compensation package - including perks & benefits - fairly remunerate you for the work you do?

4/5

The pay was respectable and fairly remunerated me for the work I did. The holiday pay was also very fair, and was far better than what I had received for temp work in the past.

How well do you feel the role is preparing you for your future career?

4/5

Having not been able to get a role in my degree, I was nearing changing career and finding another route. However, this opportunity was great as it remotivated me, as well as allowing me to develop my skills and confidence. I had responsibilities and resources that allowed me to develop a range of useful skills that will hopefully land me a similar job in the future.

How would you rate the extent to which you were developing new or existing skills through formal training and your day-to-day role?

3/5

I was able to develop a variety of skills. I did not receive formal training, but I did have time to complete online learning courses. These allowed me to learn software and technical skills that I wouldn't have learnt otherwise, and that I put into practice within my work to develop them further. My varied tasks and responsibilities meant that I developed skills and experience in a variety of areas, which was great in such a short space of time. It has built a platform to develop them further and to go in a variety of directions, however I don't feel like I developed any to an advanced level as there wasn't sufficient time or opportunity. Also, the fact that the work I was completing was separate to my team meant that I couldn't learn from others, which is extremely valuable, and sometimes I even had to teach them software.

Experience & Company Culture

How is the support you receive?

3/5

I had 3 mentors, two of which gave regular support. I also basically had two line managers, plus people from the other teams I worked on. However, they checked on me but not my work, but I didn't need to much support. I did feel that I could talk to anyone if I needed, and I felt the support was readily available.

How is your work-life balance?

5/5

I had worked full-time before, with longer hours, so I was able to manage my work-life balance well. The work was rarely too taxing that I took it home with me, and I didn't have to stay late or work overtime.

What is the organisational culture, values and general atmosphere like?

5/5

It is a very welcoming and positive atmosphere, and you feel invited and embedded from early. The university has values that are upheld, and you feel part of something that is moving to better itself.

How would you rate Manchester Metropolitan University initiatives when it comes to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?

4/5

I wasn't too familiar or aware of any initiatives, but they seemed to offer equal opportunity and inclusion.

How would you rate Manchester Metropolitan University CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives?

3/5

I'm not too aware, but they seem to be working towards a greener world.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Manchester Metropolitan University to a friend?

Yes

Why?

There is a good support system available with a lot of opportunity for development through training, a lot of resources, talks, and more. They have good values and, although they are a large institution, you feel part of a wider family.

How well did the role match your expectations based on the recruitment process?

4/5

It met everything I expected and more. I wasn't too familiar with the team's responsibilities, but that was more of my responsibility. The tasks were described accurately, and there were no surprises.

When considering the recruitment & onboarding process, have you any specific tips or advice you would give to others applying to Manchester Metropolitan University?

I think I would say to fully research all of the roles available and apply for as many as possible, and focus on roles where you are completing work that others complete within the team, as you therefore have more opportunity to learn from others and have a better chance of securing a job within the team afterwards.

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