The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.
For the past 2 years Design Factory Manchester at MMU have been involved in the £2.3m project Stockport Creative Campus (funded by Arts Council England).
https://www.onestockport.co.uk/2022/03/stockport-awarded-2-63million-to-develop-a-town-centre-creative-campus/
We now wish to track any impact that the project has had on Stockport, specifically, whether work carried out by SCC partners (including MMU) has led to the growth of a more viable creative sector in the town. We are looking to recruit a Research Assistant to support with collecting and analysing quantitative data, such as building vacancy rates and the number of creative businesses in the town centre, using a variety of sources, and through contributing to on-the-ground data collection in Stockport to map current building usage. The main purpose of this role is to provide research support to colleagues and support staff for the Stockport Creative Campus project and its connected Impact Case Study for the university’s REF29 submission by assisting, and where necessary taking the lead, with research data collection and analysis, and the dissemination of findings to appropriate groups and external partners as related to the project. This activity will also feed into work we are conducting with external partner MadLab on a Community-led High-street Innovation project (funded by Power to Change) through which we hope the data collected and analysed will be used to support establishing a Creative Land Trust in the town, securing empty buildings for long-term use by the creative sector.
We welcome applications form any discipline but the role may be best suited to the fields of Sociology, Business, and Architecture. Overall, the applicant should have experience of working with quantitative data and experience of communicating findings including the use of creative forms of data visualisation.
- Dates: 3rd November – 19th December 2025
- Hours: Up to 16 hours per week, 90 hours total (maximum). Work can be carried out flexibly within the specified timescale in agreement with the research team.
- Location: Hybird. It is expected that some work can be carried out remotely and/or on campus but some visits to Stockport town centre for data collection and meetings with external partners will be required.
Key Tasks
Research Activities
- Undertake quantitative data collection and analysis using a variety of data sets, such as building vacancy rates and the number of creative businesses in the Stockport town centre, using a variety of sources, and through contributing to on-the-ground data collection in Stockport to map current building usage.
- Plan, prioritise and organise own work or resources, in order to achieve agreed objectives.
- Conduct database searches using standard techniques and methods and carry out comparative analysis with historic data sets.
- Devise a survey for the creative sector and other stakeholders in Stockport.
- Carry out on-the-ground mapping activity of buildings and retail spaces in Stockport town centre.
- Write up results of own research and prepare for presentation to research team and relevant stakeholders.
- Contribute to the production of research reports. The role may also require contribution to a project website and uploading geo-tagged photographs of buildings.
- Use initiative and judgement to develop appropriate techniques in order to facilitate research work and resolve problems affecting the achievement of objectives and deadlines.
Liaison and Networking
- Present research to the team and external partners where required.
- Participate in internal and external partnerships and networks in order to aid the dissemination of research findings, to share best practice, and to enhance the reputation of the University.
Team Working
- Actively participate as a member of the research team, offering general help and guidance to others who may be assisting with the research project.
Miscellaneous
- You have a legal duty, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or anyone else by your acts or omissions. In addition, you must cooperate with the University on health and safety matters and must not interfere or misuse anything provided for health, safety and welfare purposes.
- You are responsible for applying the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy in your own area of responsibility and in your general conduct.
- You have a responsibility to promote high levels of customer care within your own areas of work.
- Such other relevant duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the Manager in agreement with you. Such agreement should not be unreasonably withheld.
- You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability in order to reduce its waste, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
- You have the responsibility to engage with the University’s commitment to delivering value for money services that optimise the use of resources and therefore should consider this when undertaking all duties and aspects of your role.