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.
Student Internship 2026 -
Policy Engagement Assistant for the BioEffective Surfaces for Transport (BEST) Network
The BioEffective Surfaces for Transport (BEST) Network aims to advance the development and deployment of antimicrobial materials across the UK transport system and built environment, improving hygiene, safety and infection control in high traffic public settings. The network brings together scientists, engineers, transport professionals, industrial partners and regulators to build evidence based solutions and support policy change towards safer, bioactive infrastructure across mass transport modes and the built environment.
This work placement will give a student hands on experience in policy intelligence, analysis, and engagement planning, directly contributing to BEST’s strategic aim to influence sector relevant public policy and regulatory thinking.
The student will deepen BEST’s understanding of the policy and regulatory landscape, combining insights from BEST’s existing policy toolkit, analysis of relevant UK policy developments, expand the existing stakeholder mapping and produce draft policy narrative materials, briefing notes, and a list of recommended policy facing contacts.
This work will support BEST in articulating how antimicrobial surface technologies align with public health and transport sector priorities, particularly within current government strategies on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), infection control, and transport and built environment safety.
1 Orientation & Landscape Review
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Get up to speed on the background of the BEST Network objectives and project progress to date, review the existing Policy Intelligence Toolkit and prepare short summaries of: AMR strategy and its relevance to BEST; Transport Bills and current relevant parliamentary interest areas / debates (e.g . AMR debates, transport usage targets, Built environment infection control), to produce a short summary paper.
2 Expansion of Policy Stakeholder Mapping
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BEST has an existing basic stakeholder map. Using the toolkit’s lists and external sources, expand on BEST’s map with more detail on the policy related areas, research individual roles/responsibilities and identify their likely interests, to produce an expanded stakeholder map and prioritised list with rationales for engagement.
3 Policy Narrative Development
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Draft an umbrella statement articulating BEST’s policy relevance, and define key message pillars tied to transport hygiene, AMR risk reduction, and evidence based design. Cross reference the narrative with transport and public health priorities to produce a draft policy narrative and a simple visual umbrella house graphic.
4 Policy Briefing Development
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Prepare policy briefing papers as time allows on The Case for BioEffective Surfaces in UK Transport and the Built Environment and targeted sector briefings for rail, bus, public health, built environment and / or regulatory bodies. Priorities and capability to be decided by the student and team as the project progresses.
5 Engagement Plan & Contact List
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Refine a list of 20–30 priority contacts, prepare tailored message prompts for approaching different stakeholder categories and highlight any timings recommendations according to legislative cycles, consultations or sector conferences).
Details
Dates: June 2026 - July 2026
Hours per week: approx. 16
Students will be expected to develop the following skills and experiences while carrying out this internship
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- Understand more about the mechanisms of UK policymaking across government, Parliament and relevant agencies.
- Analyse transport and built environment public health policy contexts relevant to antimicrobial surfaces.
- Apply policy training frameworks e.g. identifying stakeholders, narrative development, timing, messaging.
- Produce compelling policy briefings for non academic audiences.
- Navigate and summarise policy documents (e.g. AMR strategy, Railways Bill, Bus Services Bill, WHO guidance on environmental drivers, Uk Biological Security Strategy).
- Build a policy engagement plan.
Please Note - As part of the 2026 Student Internship offering, priority will be given to Level 5 & 6 students who have specified in the Careers Registration survey (this is completed during enrolment and cannot be changed at this time) that they have had no work experience in the last 12 months and would like some on campus work or a short work placement. However, applications are welcomed from all students meeting the criteria below.
Students are only eligible to undertake one internship under the 2026 Student Internship offering.