Graduate Intern – Market Intelligence and Support

£27,547 to £28,381 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,638.15 per annum)

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The External Relations Department is responsible for enhancing the University of Derby's reputation and profile, driving student recruitment and supporting the University's strategic ambitions. Through specialist teams spanning marketing, communications, digital, social media, events and student recruitment, the department delivers impactful campaigns, engaging events and outstanding customer experiences that connect prospective students and stakeholders with the University, both nationally and internationally.

This internship offers an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience within a busy External Relations environment. You will support the External Relations team with day-to-day market research, data gathering, and reporting. The intern will help collect and organise information on competitors, trends and student recruitment markets, and support the wider team with basic project coordination tasks. This role is hands‑on and task‑based rather than strategic, giving the intern practical exposure to how a marketing and insight function operates.

In addition, you will provide support to the Director of External Relations, assisting with diary management, research, administration, and organisational tasks, gaining insight into senior-level business operations and stakeholder engagement.

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented individual who is keen to develop their skills in market research, data analysis, and project support. You will have strong organisational skills, a proactive approach to work, and the ability to manage a variety of tasks effectively.

You will be comfortable gathering and analysing information, identifying market trends, and producing accurate reports to support decision-making. Strong communication skills and confidence working with data and research are essential, alongside the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the External Relations team.

You will also be highly organised and capable of providing administrative support, including diary management, coordinating activities, conducting research, and supporting the Director of External Relations with day-to-day tasks. A willingness to learn, attention to detail, and a positive, can‑do attitude are key to success in this role.

This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to gain hands‑on experience and practical insight into how a marketing, recruitment, and market intelligence function operates within a professional environment.

• Under the guidance of the Director of External Relations, support the team by gathering and organising data on competitor activity, market trends, and demographic information from publicly available sources.
• Help compile simple reports and summaries of research findings for review by senior colleagues.
• Assist with maintaining trackers, spreadsheets and dashboards used to monitor recruitment and marketing activity.
• Support the coordination of small project tasks, tracking deadlines and helping keep documents up to date.
• Help prepare briefing materials, presentations and internal communications under guidance.
• Provide general administrative support to the Director of External Relations, including diary coordination, filing and note‑taking at meetings.
• Liaise with colleagues across departments to collect information needed for reports.
• Adopt a professional approach in understanding and responding to client and customer needs.
• Adopt the University's Core Values and Behaviours.
• A recent University of Derby Graduate (within the last 3 years)

Experience

• Basic experience with spreadsheets and data organisation
• Basic experience and interest in research or analysis
• Experience of co-ordinating multiple projects at the same time

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Understanding of marketing and emerging trends
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to work as part of a team

Business requirements

• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University in a cost effective and timely manner
• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days.

Experience

• Experience of working in marketing, research or the Higher Education sector
• Experience of working with basic reporting tools.
• Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Elly Sample, Director of External Relations via e.sample@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk .

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including 'Mx', and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

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