The University of Manchester has been named the most targeted university by the UK’s top 100 graduate employers in 2022.
According to the Graduate Market – an independent annual review of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at the UK’s leading employers – the city’s flagship university has taken the top spot on the 2021-2022 list, thanks to research carried out by High Flyers.
Nottingham, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Warwick, Cambridge, Sheffield, Edinburgh, and Oxford are among the other universities in the top 10.
This isn’t the first time that the University of Manchester has had a place on this list either, as this is now the 17th year that High Flyers Research has produced the independent assessment of the graduate job market, and in that time, no other institution has been number one more frequently than UoM, or ranked as consistently amongst the top three.
“I’m thrilled that the University has reclaimed top spot as the most popular destination for the UK’s biggest employers to find the best and brightest graduates,” said Pofessor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students at UoM.
🎓“It is a testament to all the effort and hard work our students and graduates put into their studies and additional activities that gives them the edge over other graduates.”
“It’s a testament to all the effort and hard work that our students and graduates put into their studies and additional activities that gives them the edge over other graduates.”
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Anne Milligan – Employer Engagement Manager at UoM – added: “This is a fantastic achievement, especially following the circumstances of the past two years, as the pandemic has been an extremely challenging time for students, staff, and employers.
“I’m truly appreciative of the all the hard work and energy put in to supporting recruiters in the UK and globally for the benefit of our students and graduates.”
On a wider scale, this latest report confirms that the number of graduate opportunities for final year university students from the ‘Class of 2022’ is now 11% higher than the pre-pandemic in graduate vacancies recorded in 2019.
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Graduate starting salaries at the UK’s top employers are rising too for the first time in eight years – with a new median of £32,000.
Featured Image – The University of Manchester
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Manchester councillor Bev Craig has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List
Danny Jones
The leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, has officially been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List for 2026.
Councillor Craig, who has held her leadership position since October 2021, received the OBE for her services to local government.
She joins several other regional councillors to be named by King Charles III.
First elected by Burnage residents back in 2011, she has spent more than a decade and a half devoting her professional life to the community, as well as nearly a whole five years of that time at the highest level within the Council.
The University of Manchester graduate has played several key roles throughout her career, including giving back to higher education, helping trade unions, as well as serving as an executive member for adult social care and health during the pandemic, before serving as Deputy and eventually Leader.
Speaking in an official statement, Craig said: “To receive an OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.
“Manchester is an incredible city, made special by its people and a place I’m proud to call home.
“Leading our city is a privilege I don’t take for granted, so to get awarded an OBE for what we’ve been doing to make Manchester an even better place to live and improve the lives of Manchester people, while creating a city that is fairer and more inclusive for generations to come, is the real honour.”
With the Council having also confirmed two special NYE events on either side of the Town Hall this year, it feels like a fitting celebration.
Congratulations to Bev Craig on the well-deserved accolade and title; we have no doubt she’ll continue to excel in her post.
You can find the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List HERE.
As for the discussion around knighthoods, many Brits are currently calling for a change in the rules in hopes of making OBE, CBE and MBE, Kevin Sinfield a Sir.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Manchester City Council)
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VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
Emily Sergeant -
10th March 2022 
