Market Researcher

About the University

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department

Based at our state of the art, £75 million Cavendish Building in the heart of Derby, at Derby International Business School, we are not just educating future business leaders – we’re shaping innovators, disruptors, and pioneers ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.  

Our diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses spans dynamic disciplines including accounting, business management, international business, economics and finance, marketing, event management, and tourism management. Each programme is expertly crafted to equip you with the cutting-edge skills, real-world experience, and strategic mindset you need to excel in today’s global marketplace.  

We pride ourselves on our commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance. Our curriculum is designed in partnership with leading organisations such as PwC, Rolls-Royce, and local enterprise hubs, ensuring our graduates meet the demands of a competitive business environment. With strong ties to local and national businesses, our students gain access to invaluable opportunities for placements, networking, and hands-on projects that bridge the gap between theory and practice.  

Our programmes are accredited by top professional bodies, including CIMA, ACCA, CIM, and CIPD, setting the gold standard for quality and credibility in business education.  

About the Role

We are seeking a Researcher to join an exciting collaborative project in partnership with Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK), a leading global industry partner. This role combines applied research with practical development, focusing on innovative solutions that address real-world challenges.

This project will support the development of a new, lightweight Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) at TMUK's Burnaston site. The vehicle will meet the rising demand for eco-friendly micro-mobility with features including a solar roof, advanced connectivity, and sustainable materials ensuring end of recovery and recycling. It supports the UK's move to zero-emission transport, boosts the supply chain, and secures jobs at TMUK. By developing a ready-to-produce design, the project opens new market opportunities and positions the UK as a leader in sustainable urban mobility and advanced automotive manufacturing.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) has funded this £30.3 million project through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 Collaborate programme, and aims to meet the evolving needs of urban populations while accelerating the shift to zero tailpipe emission transport by validating a novel, lightweight battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the L6e category.

The University of Derby will play a critical role in the project, leading on real-world testing and analysis, leveraging its expertise in micromobility user behaviour and solar energy viability. Together, the consortium partners are studying how to shape a smarter and more sustainable future for urban mobility across Europe. Acting as a ‘living lab,’ the University will evaluate how the BEV fits evolving patterns of sustainable urban mobility and assess its potential to transform city transport.

As micromobility becomes central to the future of urban transport, this study marks a vital step toward understanding and meeting the evolving mobility needs of city populations, while accelerating the shift toward reduced congestion emissions and enhanced urban accessibility. The research aligns with the University of Derby’s flagship Derby Urban Sustainable Transport Transition (DUST) project, focused on enhancing the city’s green spaces and promoting low-carbon mobility.

By applying innovations in data-centric engineering, market demand opportunities along with user engagement and experience, we will explore how novel technologies will be adopted and accepted such that micromobility reaches the most appropriate users and locations, maximising accessibility and effectiveness.

The Market Researcher in Micro-mobility will contribute to this project by conducing market research, competitor research and consumer market research. The role will involve applied research and the Researcher will be responsible for translating research questions and user needs into relevant methods for best extracting competitor data and consumer opinions. You will work closely with academic colleagues, Toyota engineers and other industry partners, also contributing to publications and stakeholder engagement. The role will involve desk-based research and primary research about the market for, and consumers' perceptions of, micro-mobility vehicles.

This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of research and industry, delivering impactful outcomes that shape the future.

About You

You will have a PhD or be on the journey towards a PhD or will have equivalent experience in Business, Marketing or a closely related discipline. You will be familiar and comfortable with both quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis. Ideally, you will have proven previous experience of designing and delivering research projects, will have strong organisational skills and be able to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team. You will have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, good awareness of data security and research ethics and will be able to communicate complex ideas to non-specialists both verbally and in writing.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)Teacher’s Pension SchemeSuite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance ProgrammeAccess to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailersDiscounted onsite gymCycle to Work schemeA flexible working environmentA commitment to personal and professional development

Key Contact

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Mark Gilman, Professor of Economics via [email protected] 

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [email protected]

Important Information

This role may be eligible for sponsorship by the University. 

The offered salary for this role is less than the going rate for the occupation and the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025). Therefore you will only be eligible to apply for a Skilled Worker visa subject to your individual circumstances which must meet one of the following criteria set out by UKVI: 

Your job is on the Immigration Skills ListYou’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional trainingYou have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You must also meet the English Language requirement.

Please note that the University will assess your individual eligibility for sponsorship at the shortlisting stage.

For more information, visit our website.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.

Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.

Closing Date: 12 Jan 2026

Area: Teaching and Research

Salary: £29,588 to £37,999 per annum