Market Research Consultant: IAESTE Programme Wales

ABOUT THE PROJECT

IAESTE is the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience and offers paid work-based training opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as applied arts related subjects in both the UK and in over 80 countries worldwide.

The British Council is a member of the association and manages the delivery of IAESTE in the UK with funding support from UK government departments.

For the financial year 2017-18 the Welsh Government has reduced the funding for the IAESTE programme, with the aim of ceasing all funding after that. For the last few years, placements in Wales have been offered by university departments, with very few placements offered by businesses. The British Council wants to assess whether there is an appetite from Welsh businesses for the IAESTE programme and the services it provides, in order to determine whether to continue funding the programme in Wales from other income sources.

ABOUT THE ROLE

There are four key aims of this tender: 

1. to assess whether Welsh businesses are interested in taking international students for work experience placements, including gathering information on perceptions of opportunities and barriers
2. to assess whether Welsh businesses are prepared to pay for taking on an international student for a work experience placement
3. to assess the suitability of the IAESTE programme to facilitate international work placements for Welsh businesses
4. to create a database of employers potentially interested in participating in the IAESTE programme.

The consultant will be required to conduct a market analysis of the opportunity for this type of service, with a focus on businesses in the STEM sector in Wales.  

As part of the market analysis, the consultant will gather data from employers on the value and benefit of international placement services. This review should assess any potential barriers to employer engagement with the scheme and identify potential marketing opportunities; including a bank of key messages that can be used to target future employers.

The final report should provide a comprehensive analysis of the overall viability of continuing with the IAESTE programme in Wales, including the creation of a database of employers potentially interested in participating in the IAESTE programme.   

The consultant will be required to:

1.  conduct a literature review of a range of internally available documentation including evaluation reports 
2.  design a questionnaire and conduct interviews with Welsh businesses who have an international interest or are interesting in engaging globally to assess the interest and willingness to pay to host international trainees (by phone, Skype or face to face)
3. identify impact and benefit of international placements within Welsh businesses and present key messages
4. provide a verbal presentation to British Council staff of main findings either face to face or by telephone (date to be confirmed)
5. collate and structure a report in response to the four key aims of the tender and summarise the points outlined above, along with a database of potential employers. The written PDF report for British Council internal use is to be submitted by the 2nd of June 2017, in an appropriate format to be agreed between the consultant and the British Council, and should include as a minimum:

• executive summary
• methodology
• key findings
• market opportunity
• key messages: grouped and browsable by different types as above, referenced and supported by data, case studies, quotes etc.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential

• The ability to filter large amounts of information, draw relevant conclusions and present them in a suitable format 
• Training and/or experience in market research 
• Experience of drafting and producing written reports to include appropriate/relevant content/detail 
• Fluent in English 
• Training and/or experience in business development
• Welsh-based or good knowledge of Welsh businesses, networks and relevant contacts.

Desirable

• Training and/or experience in project management 
• Experience/knowledge of IAESTE or similar mobility programmes.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete Annex 1: Response to ITT (available below to download) and submit it to katie.jellicoe@britishcouncil.org no later than 11th May 2017 12:00hrs UK time with the title ’Market Research Consultant: IAESTE Programme Wales’.