A Day in the Life of Rob Talbot, R&D Consultant

At Minerva Innovation Group, our people make the business what it is. Every team member brings a different background, skillset, and perspective, helping us deliver tailored R&D tax relief support across a range of industries.

Through our "Day in the Life" series, we shine a light on the people behind Minerva and what their roles look like day to day. Today, we're introducing Rob, an R&D Technical Consultant. His experience reflects the supportive culture for which Minerva was recently named a finalist in the Fair and Healthy Workplace of the Year category at the Glasgow Business Awards.

Career Background 

I joined Minerva Innovation Group in January after graduating from university with a Master's in Mechanical Engineering. Before that, I completed an eight-month placement with Johnson & Johnson MedTech at Cerenovus as a Student Research & Development Engineer, which gave me my first real exposure to R&D in industry.

My university thesis focused on the design and evaluation of auxetic energy-absorbing metamaterials, so I have always enjoyed the problem-solving and analytical side of engineering.

What attracted me to Minerva was the variety of work and the flexibility that comes with the role. Since joining, I have worked from Ireland, Portugal, and France, which has been a pretty amazing way to start my career. 

Key Responsibilities 

A big part of my role involves speaking with clients to understand the technical aspects of their projects and to help identify qualifying R&D activities for tax relief. From there, I draft technical narratives that explain the work carried out, the challenges faced, and the innovation involved. Every project is different, which keeps things interesting. One week, I could be researching software development projects, and the next I could be studying farming equipment or engineering processes. 

8:00am 

Most days start with a bowl of cereal and a walk before work, preferably on a beach if near, before logging on. It’s a nice way to start the morning and definitely beats sitting in traffic on a commute.

9:00am 

Once online, the day normally begins with internal catch-ups and deliverables meetings with the team. Even though we all work remotely, there is a really strong sense of support across the business. Joining straight from university could have been quite daunting, but everyone was incredibly welcoming from day one and always happy to help whenever needed. 

10:30am 

The rest of the morning is usually focused on client consultations. Some calls are introductory meetings where we gather information about a project, while others involve much deeper technical discussions. This is one of my favourite parts of the role because every client works on something completely different. In the same week, I could be discussing engineering projects, software developments, or innovations within agriculture. 

1:00pm 

Lunch is usually a chance to get outside for a while and make the most of wherever I am based at the time. Sometimes that means grabbing some fresh air, sitting in the sun for a bit, or even going for a quick swim before getting back to work. 

1:30pm 

Most afternoons are spent drafting technical narratives and carrying out research. A lot of the role involves taking complex technical information and turning it into something clear and structured. That usually means researching industry baselines, understanding technical challenges, and documenting the innovation behind each project. I also review reports prepared by colleagues and support other projects across the team. 

5:00pm 

Once the laptop closes, the exploring usually begins. One of the biggest benefits of the role has been the flexibility to work remotely whenever I have been travelling. Since joining Minerva, I have been able to work in different places which has helped me to continue developing professionally, and personally. At weekends especially, I try to make the most of where I am staying and explore somewhere new. 

Why I Love My Job 

What I enjoy most about working at Minerva is the balance between technical work, variety, and flexibility. No two projects are the same, so there is always something new to learn, and the role constantly challenges you to think differently.

I have also really appreciated the people and culture within the company. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and approachable since I joined, and despite being fully remote, there is a genuine sense of community across the team. It has been a brilliant start to my career so far, and I am excited to continue developing within the role. 

To get in touch with Rob about anything from his R&D background, to his thesis in design and evaluation of auxetic energy-absorbing metamaterials, to claiming R&D cash credits, contact him via rob@minervainnovation.ie!