Consulting Graduate Jobs in Manchester

Work as an R&D Technical Consultant, helping innovative businesses identify eligible R&D activities, analyse technical projects, interview engineers and scientists, and write technical reports supporting R&D tax relief claims.CBTax is an award-winning, global R&D tax consultancy firm with offices in Manchester and Northampton in the UK, Dublin serving the Republic of Ireland, and our newest locations in New York and Dubai supporting the US and Middle Eastern markets.As one of the fastest-growing firms in our sector, we specialise in R&D Tax Relief, partnering with businesses across many sectors including engineering, technology, manufacturing, construction, energy, science, agriculture, and food & beverage to deliver robust claims, commercial value, and fully compliant advice.We’re looking for high-performing, commercially minded problem-solvers who want to make a tangible impact. There has never been a more exciting time to join CBTax as we continue our international growth.About the role:At CBTax, our R&D Technical Consultants work directly with innovative businesses globally, translating complex technical work into powerful, compliant R&D tax relief claims. From engineering and software to life sciences and manufacturing, we're helping clients unlock funding and push the boundaries of innovation.If you’re a recent STEM graduate and enjoy understanding how things work, solving problems, and explaining technical concepts clearly — this is your opportunity to do all of that in a commercially impactful role.What You'll Be Doing:Work directly with clients to uncover and assess eligible R&D activitiesConduct technical interviews and on-site visits with R&D teams, engineers and scientistsAnalyse complex technical processes and write compelling technical reportsPartner with tax and compliance teams to ensure high-quality submissionsKeep up to date with guidelines to ensure all technical content is audit-readyAdvise clients on best practices for documentation and record-keepingWhat We're Looking For:A STEM degree or a related technical disciplineStrong analytical and technical writing skillsAbility to distil complex concepts for both technical and non-technical audiencesCommercial awareness and confidence in client-facing conversationsCuriosity, problem-solving mindset, and attention to detailA full driving licence is a must-have for this role.Benefits & Perks (UK and Irish benefits differ slightly. Ask for details):Bonus: Performance-linked bonus schemePension: Company pension contributionHealthcare: Private healthcare coverTech Scheme: Access to the latest devices via salary sacrificeFlex Benefits: Flexible benefits package tailored to youEmployee Incentives: Regular team incentives, socials, and recognition eventsRecognition: A culture that celebrates wins and rewards high performance

Posted 4 days ago

Train as a consultant software engineer, developing software for clients while gaining experience in software engineering, AI-assisted development, system design and technical consulting.In BriefThis is a permanent role that blends high-level software engineering with strategic client advisory. Our consultant software engineers act as technical partners to our clients, helping them transform their businesses through domain expertise and, increasingly, AI-driven solutions.As a consultant engineer at Softwire, you’ll be part of a bright, inclusive, supportive team. You will work directly with our customers to solve some of their biggest challenges, making a genuine difference to people’s lives, businesses and society along the wayInterspersed with the project work, you’ll benefit from structured training that equips you for a long and fulfilling career in the digital world.Working here, your opportunities are virtually limitless, with a wide variety of technical and non-technical career paths open to you. Both our current and our previous managing directors are alumni of our graduate programme.Salary: £45,000 with an average of between £2,250 - £3,000 in profit shareOur graduate timelineMonth 1: Software engineering inductionOur training programme gets you up-to-speed with the skills you need to thrive as a professional digital engineer. You’ll get a grounding in coding, source control, modern technology stacks, and more. You’ll then form a team with your fellow new starters to develop a piece of software, typically for a not-for-profit organisation or to be used within Softwire. Under the guidance of experienced engineers, you’ll learn what it takes to deliver commercial-grade software.The induction includes training in AI-assisted development. You will learn to oversee and refine AI-generated code, reflecting a shift in the coding world from manual creation to high-level oversight. This training ensures you can leverage AI for maximum efficiency while focusing on architectural challenges and client value.Months 2-15: Working on client projectsWith your first project complete, you’ll join one of our teams delivering a client project, usually in our offices but sometimes on a customer site. You’ll get plenty of support throughout, surrounded by helpful colleagues and industry experts to answer all your questions. And with continual peer review of your work, your software engineering skills will quickly rise to new levels. Alongside your project work, you’ll continue to attend our in-house training programme . This industry-leading course lasts six weeks in total, spread over 12 months. It broadens your knowledge in key aspects of professional software engineering, including:System designDevelopment methodologiesAdditional technologiesYou will move beyond simply doing what is asked; you will advise clients on the best course of action using your domain knowledge. As AI handles more of the routine coding, your role will focus on architectural oversight and strategic partnership.Month 16 and beyond: Choose your career pathWe continue to invest in your development and promote from within. Many of our senior staff joined as graduates and have followed a range of career paths. And, as the individuals we’ve highlighted below show, you’ll quickly get opportunities to take on added responsibility. You might decide you love leading project delivery. You might enjoy overseeing a technology team. You may find consulting is your passion. You could choose to specialise in areas such as design, or data science and artificial intelligence.The people we are looking forA passion for solving real-world challenges:First and foremost, you’ll get a buzz from building things that make a difference to businesses, people and society. We also want to see passion for coding – any experience you have is a bonusA consultancy mindset:You are genuinely excited about working with customers to solve their problems. You’ll need to be comfortable in new environments, quickly building relationships with new clients to get to the heart of their businesses and their needs. You are confident discussing technical ideas with people with varying degrees of digital literacy, communicating clearly with any audienceA positive, can-do team player:You love pushing the team to greater heights by helping colleagues out wherever you can. You always look to improve yourself and others. Your default answer to a question is ‘yes’, and you make big problems seem smallExtreme STEM skills:We are looking for exceptional logical analysis and reasoning capabilities

Posted 11 days ago

Support organisations in adopting Microsoft 365, Copilot, and AI technologies by creating communications, training materials, and change management initiatives for digital transformation projects.About Reply:Reply specialises in designing and implementing solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Structured as a network of highly specialised companies, Reply supports leading European industrial groups in sectors such as Telco & Media, Industry and Services, Banking and Insurance, and Public Administration, helping define and develop business models enabled by new paradigms such as AI, Cloud Computing, Digital Media, and the Internet of Things. Reply’s services include Consulting, System Integration, and Digital Services.    Role Overview:Join as a Graduate Change and Communications Consultant and support organisations in realising tangible value from Microsoft 365, Copilot and AI-enabled ways of working. In this entry-level position, you will apply strong communication and creative skills to develop clear and engaging campaigns, training materials and stakeholder communications that explain new tools and behaviours. Working in collaboration with experienced consultants and client teams, you will contribute to change and adoption initiatives, process mapping and improvement activities, as well as AI & Automation Factory and Copilot projects. You will also progressively build your expertise in Microsoft 365, Copilot, Power Platform, AI concepts and cloud technologies through structured learning, mentoring and hands-on project work. Responsibilities:Support change management initiatives that help clients adopt Microsoft 365, Copilot and AI‑enabled ways of working.  Develop clear, engaging communications, campaigns and stakeholder updates that explain new tools, processes and behaviours.  Contribute to the design and delivery of training materials, user guides, workshops and adoption sessions for diverse audiences.  Assist with process and user journey mapping, as well as basic process re‑engineering, to identify opportunities for automation and Copilot or Power Platform solutions.  Collaborate with consultants, architects and client stakeholders to gather requirements, capture feedback and translate insights into actionable adoption activities.  Support AI & Automation Factory and Copilot adoption projects through discovery, content creation, testing, documentation and preparation of showcases and demos.  Maintain accurate project documentation and status updates to ensure alignment across internal and client teams.  Proactively build knowledge of Microsoft 365, Copilot, Power Platform, AI concepts and cloud technologies to enhance the quality of delivery. About the Candidate:Achieved or on track for a 2:1 degree, ideally in a creative or communication-focused discipline such as Media and Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a related field.  A strong “people person” with high emotional intelligence, able to understand stakeholder needs and what motivates different audiences.Highly creative thinker who is comfortable proposing fresh ideas and approaching challenges from new angles.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear copy, compelling presentations and engaging campaign content.  Confident presenting to groups and adapting messaging and style for different stakeholder levels.  Demonstrates genuine curiosity about AI, Microsoft 365, Copilot, cloud technologies and how they can transform ways of working.  Some relevant work experience, such as an internship, placement year or part-time role, ideally in a communications, marketing or digital environment.  Proactive, organised and collaborative, with a willingness to learn quickly and take ownership of tasks in a fast-paced consulting setting. Reply is an Equal Opportunities Employer and committed to embracing diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, identity, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status or parental status or any other characteristic protected by the Law.  

Posted 29 days ago

Help clients improve business processes by designing and implementing Microsoft Power Platform, AI, and automation solutions as part of digital transformation projects.About Reply:Reply specialises in designing and implementing solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Structured as a network of highly specialised companies, Reply supports leading European industrial groups in sectors such as Telco & Media, Industry and Services, Banking and Insurance, and Public Administration, helping define and develop business models enabled by new paradigms such as AI, Cloud Computing, Digital Media, and the Internet of Things. Reply’s services include Consulting, System Integration, and Digital Services.    Role Overview:As a Graduate Power Platform Consultant, you’ll help clients understand, improve and automate their business processes using Microsoft Power Platform, cloud services and modern AI (including agentic AI). Working alongside experienced consultants, you’ll support discovery and process mapping, contribute to the design and build of Power Apps and Power Automate solutions, and assist in delivering practical AI-enabled solutions. This entry-level role is ideal for graduates with strong communication and analytical skills, technical curiosity, and a genuine interest in how technology can make organisations work better. Responsibilities:Support discovery workshops and process mapping activities to understand how clients currently work and where automation or AI could add value.  Assist in simplifying and re-engineering business processes before automation, ensuring solutions address the right problems.  Help design, build, test and implement solutions using Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate) and related Microsoft 365 services. Contribute to the design and delivery of AI and agentic AI use cases, including understanding data sources, governance and adoption needs.  Document requirements, decisions and actions clearly, supporting effective communication with stakeholders throughout delivery.  Collaborate with senior consultants and client teams to ensure solutions are practical, user-focused and aligned to business goals.  Develop your skills and knowledge across Power Platform, AI, automation and cloud services through hands-on project work and training. About the Candidate: Bachelor’s degree (2:1 or above preferred) in Computer Science, Business, IT, Engineering, Data or another technology- or business-related field. Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to work professionally with colleagues, clients and partners.  Good analytical and problem-solving ability, with an interest in how business processes work and how they can be improved.  Technically curious and eager to learn Microsoft Power Platform, AI, automation, cloud services and emerging agentic AI technologies.  Fluent in written and spoken English, able to produce clear, concise and professional documentation.  Any prior experience (placement year, internship, part-time work or relevant projects) is advantageous but not required.  Genuine interest in technology, people and helping organisations work smarter and more efficiently. Reply is an Equal Opportunities Employer and committed to embracing diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, identity, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status or parental status or any other characteristic protected by the Law.     

Posted 29 days ago

Help clients improve business processes and implement technology and intelligent automation solutions by analysing requirements and supporting digital transformation projects.About Reply:Reply specialises in designing and implementing solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Structured as a network of highly specialised companies, Reply supports leading European industrial groups in sectors such as Telco & Media, Industry and Services, Banking and Insurance, and Public Administration, helping define and develop business models enabled by new paradigms such as AI, Cloud Computing, Digital Media, and the Internet of Things. Reply’s services include Consulting, System Integration, and Digital Services.   Role Overview:As a Graduate Business Analyst you’ll have the ability to help clients deliver their business strategy through process improvements, support technology solutions through analysis of requirements, and selected use of state-of-the-art intelligent automation tools.The role requires innovative thinking to deliver process improvements for clients, making use of multiple tools to deliver and embed real change. It requires confident engagement and applied learning to pick up new skills, and apply them in new situations. This would require an ability to work with clients to identify their core problems and to address these using the right tool / method for the job. This will use some of the most exciting automated tools on the market as well as the tried and tested methodologies (such as Lean Six Sigma) to deliver real process change. This role is based in Manchester.  Responsibilities:As a Graduate Business Analyst within Reply, you’ll support the accelerated growth of the organisation by helping to develop new propositions, creating use cases for intelligent automation tools, acquiring new clients and supporting business development as well as delivering projects. You’ll be responsible for: Collaborating with clients on the implementation of optimisation and technology projects - acting as catalyst for sustainable cost-effective change - helping clients to shape the scope, approach and structure of a wide variety of projectsContributing to the selection of analysis and delivery methods, tools and techniques for projects; selecting appropriately from predictive (plan-driven) and adaptive (iterative/agile) approachesYou'll be instrumental in creating new and potentially disruptive approaches to performing business activities and investigating operational requirements, problems, and opportunitiesSeeking cost effective, sustainable business solutions through improvements in automated and non-automated components of new or changed processesIdentifying discrete opportunities to reduce cost, ensure quality, improve efficiency, enhance the client service and improve the work / life balance of the teamProviding implementation support to assess organisational capabilities and to identify, prioritise and implement improvements and developing tailored change management plans About the Candidate:You've completed a Computer Science or IT-related degree (min 2.1 grade)Someone who loves business, understands end users and enjoys learning tech in addition to being a team player whose fun to work withStrong interest in business transformation/optimisation and a passion for client- facing consultingA disruptive influence, able to identify and positively influence new ways of working while also being a great communicator, able to foster strong working relationships with internal and client teamsAble to collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to shape, enable and deliver initiatives in addition to being able to adapt and excel in new environmentsAble to leverage a broad range of Intelligent Automation skills, knowledge and experience to secure sustainable value from initiatives Reply is an Equal Opportunities Employer and committed to embracing diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, identity, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status or parental status or any other characteristic protected by the Law. 

Posted 29 days ago