An Interview with our 2026 Spring Intern

At MCR we are committed to helping young people at the start of their careers, particularly in today's challenging job market, and having taken on many interns over the years, we know how mutually rewarding this can be. Everybody wins, as young people gain valuable experience and develop a 'professional sense of themselves'.
 
Currently studying for a BSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Manchester, we were delighted to welcome Bridget Taylor as our 2026 Spring Intern. We sat down with Bridget at the end of her internship to chat about the time she spent with us and how it might have influenced her plans for the future.

Why MCR, and what were you originally hoping to gain from this spring internship?
Although I knew I wanted to pursue a career in HR, I wasn’t entirely sure what it entailed. So, when I got the opportunity to work with Mike and some of the MCR Team on a project that would allow me both to understand the HR consulting world in more depth and explore how it directly relates to my degree, I was very excited!

Talk us through your internship, including your research project and share any key insights you've gained.
My internship at MCR was split into two main parts. The first part was focused on understanding the company’s business model, organisational structure, services, client base, marketing, and insight into the full lifecycle of an HR consulting project from initial proposal to final delivery. Initially I assumed HR was mainly focused on people management, but my experience with MCR showed me that this is far more complex than I had realised. I also learned how areas such as reward and benefits are linked to neuroscience and psychology, particularly in how they influence motivation and behaviour in the workplace.

There were a few key takeaways. I developed a strong understanding of the difference between traditional HR and specialist consulting firms like MCR, and how consultancies complement in-house HR teams with targeted expertise. I also saw how consultancy environments differ, particularly how MCR’s inverted pyramid structure means that all of their projects are delivered by highly experienced professionals, providing greater expertise and better value for its clients.

The second part of the internship was a self-managed research project designed to simulate real consulting conditions, where I had to deliver high-quality work to a tight deadline. My resulting project paper, The Brain-Friendly Workplace, explored how organisations can improve motivation, performance, and retention by aligning work with psychological and neurological drivers. It argues that while pay and benefits can prevent dissatisfaction, they don’t create motivation on their own— what really matters is how people feel at work. The brain is constantly scanning for signals like fairness, autonomy, value, and belonging, which shape engagement. I also explored frameworks such as the SCARF model, showing how everyday management behaviours can directly influence these core social needs.

What now for you? How do you think this experience will impact your future career?
As I move into my final year at University, I’m hoping to build on the project and research skills I’ve gained in the internship and apply them to my final-year work and HR-relevant modules in a more meaningful way. I’ll also be joining Marex this summer as a Talent Acquisition/HR intern. I’m looking forward to expanding my HR knowledge further, gaining practical experience, and understanding how consultancy and HR functions intersect. Among my biggest challenges at the start of my MCR internship were learning to ask for help, trusting my decisions, and adapting to a professional environment working alongside senior colleagues. With the support of the MCR team I have become more confident and proactive, which made a real difference to the overall experience.

I genuinely enjoyed my internship at MCR, and who knows, perhaps I will have the opportunity to work with them again in the future!