Insight for Impact

Tackling inequalities through the regulation of services and organisations

This podcast, involving SQW in conversation with representatives of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Institute of Regulation, explores how regulators can tackle inequalities experienced by those using, or who need to use, services. The speakers reflect on key findings and implications from the rapid literature review that CQC asked SQW to conduct (with support from The King's Fund Library Service and Dr Tammy Boyce).

Understanding and evaluating early career dental professionals’ experiences and perceptions of the General Dental Council

The General Dental Council (GDC) is keen to understand and explore the experiences and perceptions of and attitudes towards the GDC of early career dental professionals. This podcast explores findings from SQW’s research study which focused on this topic. The findings have been captured to inform the GDC’s ongoing and future activity with (and for) early career dental professionals, to help meet its regulatory objectives.

Student knowledge exchange: addressing barriers for underrepresented groups

Engaging students from traditionally underrepresented groups in knowledge exchange is an important part of widening participation; ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds are able to exploit fully the opportunities afforded by higher education. This podcast explores the role of student-focused knowledge exchange, how it links to broader equality, diversity and inclusion agendas, and provides insights on what works well in addressing barriers to participation.

Look ahead to 2024 in economic and social development

What are the key themes, policy agendas and factors that will shape economic and social development in 2024? In this podcast, experts from SQW consider what the next twelve months might hold for health and social care, employment and skills, innovation and enterprise, and local economic growth.

Improving diversity in venture capital

Venture capital (VC) plays a critical role in starting and scaling innovative companies, and the scale and growth of VC overall is a success story for the UK. However, diversity in VC investment is low, and there are underlying problems in the market that are specific or more acute for underserved founders including in terms of gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background. SQW recently worked in partnership with the British Business Bank to investigate what works for improving diversity in VC. Podcast host Joe Duggett is joined by Osman Anwar and Imogen Sprackling from SQW to discuss the study, and the evidence-based actions that it identified that can and should be adopted by UK VC firms.

Improving the quality of work experience for school pupils

Work experience can help young people make decisions about their futures, ruling in (or out) possible routes after finishing school. However, accessing high quality work experience has tended to remain the preserve of pupils from more affluent backgrounds. In this episode, SQW Director and podcast host Joe Duggett is joined by his colleague, Associate Director Will Millard, and Dr Elnaz Kashef, Head of Research and Policy at the national charity Speakers for Schools. Joe, Will and Elnaz discuss a recent report, written by SQW for Speakers for Schools, examining what international evidence says about best practice in delivering – and the potential impact of – work experience.

Strengthening the use of data analytics in adult social care

Effective use of data analytics within adult social care has the potential to revolutionise care services and experiences, but its use has been hampered by a lack of available high-quality data, alongside skills and capacity challenges within the sector. This podcast explores learning from our evaluation of the Health Foundation’s Strengthening Social Care Analytics (SSCA) programme, which focused on the use of data analytics to support improvements in adult social care.

A look ahead to 2023 in economic and social development

What are the key policy developments, drivers or events that will shape economic and social development in 2023? And what are the key implications for people, places and businesses? SQW experts across a range of policy domains look ahead in this first episode of Insight for Impact for the new year. 

Research & Innovation and Place: lessons and opportunities for national and local policymakers

Research and innovation are recognised as crucial to economic growth, both nationally and increasingly, locally. However, there is a complex relationship between ‘research and innovation’ and ‘place’, which varies in different contexts. What are the lessons and opportunities for national and local policy responses?  And what is the link to the ‘levelling-up’ agenda?

Joining SQW Director and podcast host Joe Duggett to discuss these issues are Christine Doel and Rebecca Pates. The podcast covers issues including:

• the increasing convergence of policy agendas across ‘research and innovation’ and ‘place’, and how this might influence local investments and behaviours
• how areas can understand and exploit concepts of ‘stickiness’ and ’leakiness’, which help to explain the relationships between where ‘research and innovation’ activity takes places and where it actually generates benefits
• the importance of local leadership, commitment, and sustained investment to realise place-based outcomes from ‘research and innovation’ activity.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund – local opportunities and challenges

The new Shared Prosperity Fund aims to support the UK government’s commitment to levelling-up all parts of the country. What is distinctive about the Fund, and what the key opportunities, and the potential challenges for local places and partners as they look to develop their plans