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Shaping public policy through your research

Find out how to get your research seen by government decision-makers and other policy experts – so it ultimately has an impact on society.

About Policy@Sussex

Policy@Sussex is dedicated to helping researchers connect with policymakers and influencers to support evidence-informed policymaking. We aim to put Sussex research at the centre of policy debates, providing innovative insights and helping to solve the grand issues of our time.

The core Policy@Sussex team is supported by a network of Professional Services staff drawn from across the University’s Schools and central divisions.

Video transcript

[Screen shows the parliament buildings in Westminister. The other half of the screen reads: Policy@Sussex putting research at the centre of policy making]

Alex Waddington (strategy manager, Policy@Sussex): At Policy@Sussex, what we aim to do is put research, high quality research right at the heart of policymaking. We've seen what works and what doesn’t, and we're there to answer questions. So if you're an academic at Sussex, and you're doing really interesting, important research, and you're perhaps not engaging with policy yet, but it's something you want to do, then I'd recommend you come and have a conversation with us. We're a network of experts who spend a lot of time thinking about how we engage with external audiences. We've all got quite specific policy expertise. We scan the horizon for opportunities coming up, we've got contacts. So come and have a conversation with us.

We'll talk to you about what your aims might be, how much time you have, and we'll go from there. We'll think about tactics, and it won't necessarily be a quick process, it will need time from you, but potentially it could be start a really interesting journey. So please get in contact with us, and we look forward to talking to you.

[Screen reads: Email policyteam@sussex.ac.uk. Follow us on X: @Policy_Sussex.]

Why engage with policymakers?

Engaging with policymaking can help translate your research into action. Policymakers and civil servants seek evidence and information from experts to help inform their decisions, often relying on academic research to highlight problems and propose solutions.

How we can help

The Policy@Sussex team can help you find the right time, place, format, and audience for presenting your research – maximising your impact and ensuring your research is seen and understood by key policy actors.

Our tailored support includes:

• planning policy engagement and monitoring opportunities
• stakeholder mapping
• expertise in communicating your research to policy-focused audiences
• advice on tracking impact and gathering evidence.

Planning for policy impact

It’s never too early to consider potential policy impact. From the very start of your research project, it makes sense to consider questions like:

• what issue is your research tackling?
• what is your end goal – for example, changing policy or raising awareness of an issue?
• why is this topic important now? Are there any key dates or milestones, or any current parliamentary activity?
• who are your main stakeholders – who are you trying to influence, who do they listen to, and what relationships do you have with them already?
• how can you work with intermediaries, such as third sector organisations or service providers, to advocate for you and help influence decisions?

Policy@Sussex can help with all stages of influencing policy – from planning to engaging and monitoring.