MRBA Skills is a new bursary programme we have developed to provide financial support to UK researchers at the beginning of their careers or to those working to enhance their career prospects.  The first tranche of bursaries will be launched in September for people wanting to study for the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice.

“The Advanced Certificate is the core qualification the MRS offers,” says Market Research Society MD, Debrah Harding.  “It’s a graduate qualification for those who come out of university and who, in their first or second year of graduating, enrol in this qualification.  It’s also taken by people new to research and those keen to increase their skills and career prospects in our industry.  The syllabus follows the research process giving all graduates the core skills they need to be successful researchers.”

It helps researchers struggling to fund this MRS qualification…

Like Frazer Howitt, at Sparkler.  “I’m a new graduate consultant, so I couldn’t afford this right now, but MRBA Skills’ bursary scheme is ideal for someone like me who’s very new to market research and is looking to get more formal training to complement any internal training provided by Sparkler. So, it would be perfect for me to help enhance my career prospects long term.”

Kenny Imafidon, MD of Clearview Research, took the MRS Advanced Certificate in January 2017.  He wanted to learn how to conduct better research as well as become a qualified MRS member, so his start-up company could become an MRS Corporate Partner.  “I paid for the course myself which was difficult because money wasn’t available for me to invest in training at the time.   But I did it.  If there had been opportunities for financial support, it would have been a blessing and taken a heavy burden off me.”

…And smaller agencies support their staff

As not all companies or research departments have adequate training budgets to help fund the cost of this qualification either.  Co-founder of Razor Research’s Chloe Fowler explains: “I think the MRBA bursary programme is a fantastic idea.  If researchers take the time to apply for the bursary and then complete the course, this demonstrates a real commitment to a career in our profession and will encourage both individuals and small businesses like ours to people to take this qualification. “

“This is a really exciting new initiative from MRBA,” says Ginny Monk, the MRBA Trustee spearheading the programme. As we are appealing to a totally different target audience within the industry,  we need all our MRBA friends, patrons and supporters to help us spread the word about MRBA Skills.  Please tell your staff about it, follow and share our posts on social media, and put links to our website on your websites.

I’m very proud to be associated with MRBA Skills. It’s fantastic that MRBA is broadening its financial support to people at the beginning of their careers as well continuing to help researchers throughout their careers who are in financial need.

Let’s hope Rosie Hayes, Customer & Market Insight Consultant, Allianz Insurance, who is also supporting MRBA Skills, is right.  “Lots of researchers will be biting your arm off to apply for the MRBA Skills bursary.”

Check out our MRBA Skills video here.  For full details about the bursary, the funding and application criteria, and to apply online, visit our website……