2024 young researcher of the year – client: Amanda Hammond

Amanda Hammond started her career in market research at the age of 17 with an apprenticeship within the commercial team at ITV. After four years at the broadcaster, she joined Opinum, initially as a mixed methods researcher, and later taking on a full-time qualitative position. 

Since joining Sky, Hammond has co-led its masterbrand positioning, a project that helps to develop what Sky stands for as a brand among employees and customers, across its product and service portfolio. 

Also at Sky, she co-leads Project Oystercatcher, which will help inform the strategy for customer service at Sky, working directly with the company’s chief consumer officer and chief operating officer.

Hammond led an internal piece of work seeking to find out how research practices could be improved, encouraging colleagues to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. She was also filmed as part of Sky’s Pride campaign for 2024, which included a TV ad, billboards and social media ads. 

Hammond has become an MRS careers ambassador, using the role to champion apprenticeships in research and educating secondary school, sixth form, and university students on what a career in market research can be like, and how they can get there. In the last year she has also hosted an online webinar about how stand-up comedy has helped her career in research.

The judges said: "Amanda has been creative and effective in her work at all levels of the business, liaising with and influencing the C-suite on major projects. Her championing of the sector within education as an MRS careers ambassador also hasn’t gone unnoticed – a worthy winner."

Amanda Hammond said: “I can't quite find the words to describe what this award means to me (cliché, I know), but I will say this: it’s a testament to my hard work over the years, my passion for our industry, and my dedication to helping young researchers.”

This article is based on information submitted as part of the entry process for the 2024 Research Live awards. You can find a list of all winners on the MRS Awards website.