A team of three PhD students from the Universities of Manchester, Newcastle and Loughborough, who had never met before, formed a very driven and enthusiastic team to undertake a 24-week research challenge for one of Code-Switch Consultants’s clients.
At Code-Switch Consultants, PhD and postdoctoral researchers code-switch between the languages of business and academia, within the context of a consultancy assignment. Code-Switch is a collaboration of researchers, consultancy, industry and change delivery specialists, combining multiple expertise and perspectives to improve outcomes for our clients.
The successful team undertook an initial briefing and assessment; data searching and analysis; leading to an overall report recommendations and presentation to their client, Dr. Chris Humphrey at Jobs on Toast.
Jobs on Toast is an online resource hub and careers consultancy based in South-West England, dedicated to helping individuals and universities overcome the career challenges commonly experienced by researchers.
The aim of the research project was to make recommendations, following quantitative and qualitative research, to help Jobs on Toast expand its target audience of UK PhD students and Universities, by raising its profile, as well as understanding the key offerings of its competitors and determining the client’s market niche and unique selling points.
Commented Hellen Parra-Flórez, Director, Code Switch Consultancy: “The team of May Newisar, Yao Wang and Esther Mensah, who are part of our talent pool of research consultants, were very diligent in their approach to all stages of the consultancy project and exceeded all their pre-determined objectives, whilst constantly engaging with the client.
“We are delighted to recognise them as the best performing team of our overall summer 2021 Research Consultancy Programme (Full Switch). The skill set they have developed and the practical experience gained from the project will clearly help them in the future careers and particularly in the short term in their search for an exciting new role.
“They have been great ambassadors for Code-Switch and we wish them well in developing their exciting careers.”
Quote from Dr Chris Humphrey: “I was impressed at all stages of the consultancy process by the professionalism of this Code Switch team, especially as I’m a project manager by background myself!
“The team’s report provides me with a roadmap and rationale for taking my consultancy work into exciting new areas, as well as improving my marketing, through guidance on a clearer service offer on my website, and an enhanced social media presence”.
Echoing their delight on being recognised as the best PhD team, May Newisar said: ”It was great to work together as one team to deliver new audiences for the client through tailored proposals and to help them develop their brand, through self-learning, leading to a new website, case studies and an enhanced social media presence.
“We would like to thank Code Switch for working and mentoring us and we would recommend this experience to any new PhD researcher wishing to understand the business environment.”
