Past, Present and Future: Bringing the Insight Community Together in Manchester

In November 2026, ENI Director Liz Norman, in her capacity as an MRS Board member and UK representative for ESOMAR, brought two leading industry organisations together for a landmark event in Manchester. It was the first time MRS and ESOMAR had collaborated on an event, and the first time the two organisations had jointly hosted an event for members in the North.

Organised alongside fellow UK representative Paul Child, and made possible with the generous support of Paul’s employer, Human8, the event took place at the spectacular historic Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel.

Under the theme of Past, Present and Future, four inspiring speakers explored the changing world around us. Alex Johnston examined the impact of research on four pivotal days during WWII; Cato Hunt and Phyllis Macfarlane explored how the culture of beauty has evolved over time; and Jack Bailey considered the changing fragmentation of the voting landscape.

There was also an opportunity to get creative, with a workshop challenging attendees to develop the lipstick of the future!

Alongside the talks, there was plenty of time for networking over coffee, biscuits, wine and canapés – reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

For ENI, the value of events like this goes well beyond the day itself. Recruitment is fundamentally about connections. Being actively involved in our profession, building relationships and sharing knowledge gives us an understanding of people, organisations and emerging talent that goes far beyond what can be found on LinkedIn. It is this depth of network and insight that enables us to find the best talent, not simply the most obvious.

Photography: Izzy Nurdin