In 2025, Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) achieved the prestigious top position in our Inspire HE rankings — a new rankings system designed to recognise and celebrate higher education institutions providing an outstanding employee experience through employee listening.
Manchester Met’s number one position is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating their continuous commitment to improving levels of employee engagement, wellbeing and belonging.
In this case study, we will look at the approach and some of the initiatives put in place by Manchester Met that contributed to their success, focusing on their strategic emphasis to employee experience and the impactful actions they have taken to create a great workplace for their employees.
Related: How Manchester Metropolitan University achieved 80% staff engagement
Manchester Met’s approach to employee experience has evolved significantly over the last few years. In 2022, the University adopted broad institutional strategies aimed at improving employee engagement.
Following the 2022 survey, three key focus areas were identified:
By 2024, however, the University shifted to a more localised, leader/manager/team-driven model. This new approach emphasises collaboration, with leaders and managers working closely with their teams to co-create actionable plans and solutions that address their specific needs and challenges.
With collaboration in mind, results were shared openly with all managers and leaders, creating an environment of transparency and trust. This open approach has empowered leaders to better understand their teams’ needs, allowing them to collaboratively develop solutions that further improve the workplace environment.
The University’s employee engagement team, working with the HR Business Partners, play a central role in supporting this model, acting as an internal agency that assists leaders and managers in their action-planning processes.
The support provided by the engagement team is structured in three tiers:
This approach enables and empowers leaders and managers, helping them to meaningfully engage with their teams, take action on what is within their control and influence, and create a collaborative environment where everyone works towards making their workplace a better place.
The efforts made by Manchester Met to improve employee experience have yielded impressive results:
In addition to these internal improvements, Manchester Met has received significant industry recognition, including:
Manchester Met’s approach to enhancing employee experience provides several valuable lessons for other higher education institutions:
Manchester Met’s journey towards workplace excellence is a testament to their commitment to improving employee experience. Their approach, which combines strategic initiatives with localised action planning, has had a profound impact on employee engagement, morale and overall performance.
The broader implications of their success extend beyond the university, offering a blueprint for other higher education institutions striving to improve their workplace environments. As a sector leader in employee experience, Manchester Met is helping to shape best practices that can inspire universities across the UK to adopt similar approaches, ultimately contributing to the broader success of the higher education sector as a whole.