Helping people develop and grow
At IFF, you’ll never stop learning. Whether you’re starting your research career or building expertise in a specialist area, you’ll be supported to grow, try new things and develop in the direction that’s right for you.
We’re proud that this commitment to developing people has been recognised with several different awards in recent years.
Learning by doing
We believe that the best way to learn is by getting stuck in. Just like learning to drive a car or play an instrument, you don’t become great by only reading about it – you learn by having a go, making mistakes, getting feedback and trying again.
That’s why learning at IFF is part of your everyday work, not something that happens separately. You’ll develop through real projects, stretch opportunities, mentoring, feedback and conversations with colleagues who want to help you succeed.
Your career, your development
Learning at IFF isn’t just for people at the start of their careers. Throughout your time with us, you’ll be encouraged to keep developing, challenge yourself and explore what interests you.
That might mean building expertise in a particular area of research, taking on more complex challenges, finding a mentor, sharing your knowledge with others or exploring a new skill. We want you to take ownership of your development and will support you to pursue the opportunities that excite you.
A culture where curiosity thrives
You’ll be joining a friendly and supportive team where questions are welcomed, ideas are challenged and nobody is expected to know everything.
We believe curiosity, openness and a willingness to try are some of the most valuable qualities a researcher can have. You’ll be encouraged to say “I don’t know”, learn from mistakes and keep improving.
Learning that makes a difference
Developing great researchers isn’t just good for our people – it’s central to the impact we have. By supporting curious, skilled and thoughtful researchers, we help create research that leads to better decisions, stronger policy and positive change for society.
“IFF is a brilliant place to build your skills as a researcher and it’s clear that IFF is heavily invested in your personal development. The training courses, delivered by experienced researchers, put a real focus on interactive, hands-on learning that gives you applicable skills. If your chosen specialism or area of interest isn’t catered for in-house, there’s encouragement to attend external training courses to further develop your skillset.”
Alfie,
Associate Director
How we support your development
Find out more about the different learning and development opportunities at IFF below.
Structured learning and training
Our senior researchers deliver a wide programme of internal training, including more than 40 MRS-accredited sessions. You’ll also have a dedicated allowance for external learning, alongside resources including guidance, tools, knowledge-sharing sessions, bite-sized videos and our physical library – for those that like to keep it old school.
Support from managers who care about your growth
Your manager will play an important role in your development, with coaching-style conversations focused on learning, feedback and your longer-term goals. Our managers are supported to give constructive feedback and help people reach their potential.
Regular conversations about your progress
Rather than waiting for an annual review, we use quarterly feedback and reflection check-ins to help you learn, adapt and plan your next steps. Our POP framework (Performance, Opportunity, Progression) gives you clarity about what good performance looks like at each level, and how you can progress.
Opportunities to share and learn from others
Everyone at IFF can contribute to our learning culture – whether that’s sharing expertise, suggesting new ideas or helping colleagues develop their skills.
“I think people do their best work when they feel supported and trusted – meaning they can ask questions, share ideas, make mistakes and learn from them – but also challenged to keep improving and build real expertise. It really matters to me that our people continue developing throughout their careers and have the opportunity to get really great at what they do.”
Gill,
Learning & Development Director, IFF