At the start of lockdown our team, like many others, looked at what plans we had and made some quick and often obvious decisions about which engagements we could continue online in some way, and which may need to be paused. One of those engagements was the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Great Debate, due to take place … Continue reading “Taking the Vice-Chancellor’s Great Debate online”
Author: Policy Birmingham
New digital resources for policy impact
We’ve created a series of digital resources to help you learn how to influence public policy. Influencing public policy is one of the ways you can demonstrate the impact of your research, whatever stage you are at in your academic career. How academics can work with politicians to influence policy Professor Paul Burstow, a former … Continue reading “New digital resources for policy impact”
Four ways to influence policy in your pyjamas
Since we’re all likely to be working from home for the foreseeable future, we present our guide to influencing policy in your pyjamas (note: these tips work just as well if you do decide to get dressed). Social distancing may be the order of the day, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop your … Continue reading “Four ways to influence policy in your pyjamas”
Encouraging gender equality by supporting working fathers
The Equal Parenting Project at the University of Birmingham launched a new Fathers in the Workplace Toolkit in the House of Commons this week. The Toolkit helps organisations to better support working fathers and ultimately foster working environments where mothers and fathers have equal opportunities. Whilst the introduction of Shared Parental Leave in 2015 sought … Continue reading “Encouraging gender equality by supporting working fathers”
Engaging with All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Engaging with All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) is an accessible way of connecting with policy makers about your research. However, APPGs are little-known outside of policy circles. So, what are they exactly, what are they not, why are they a useful route for policy engagement, how can you get started? APPGs are informal cross-party groups. There … Continue reading “Engaging with All-Party Parliamentary Groups”
Ta-da! How to be a whizz at policy engagement
How to stay up-to-date with debates, look for opportunities and engage with policy makers. In the 2013 film Now You See Me, four magicians pull off a series of heists during their performances, taking money from the rich to give to ordinary people in the audience. Like Robin Hood, but with stage lighting. The question … Continue reading “Ta-da! How to be a whizz at policy engagement”
Working for the Education Select Committee
Richard Ward, Clerk of the Education Select Committee in the House of Commons, reflects on his role in Parliament. From Birmingham to Westminster I studied Philosophy at Birmingham between 2004 and 2007 and attended a couple of events run by the careers centre during my second and final years, one of which was a practice … Continue reading “Working for the Education Select Committee”
How to write an effective briefing note
In this article Jeremy Swan, Public Affairs Manager (Policy Impact), gives some tips on writing briefing notes for a policy audience. Briefing notes can be a really great tool for influencing policy makers. But if you’ve not written one before, it can be hard to know where to start. In this post, I’ll provide a … Continue reading “How to write an effective briefing note”
Captive cash: why promised mental health funding needs to reach further
The political parties are now in full-on campaigning mode in advance of the impending General Election. The transformation of mental health services appears to be a top priority, and quite rightly so. The situation with services and support for people of all ages is now shocking. Mental health services are in crisis and are crisis … Continue reading “Captive cash: why promised mental health funding needs to reach further”
What is £500m of railway?
The announcement today by the Conservative Party of a manifesto pledge to spend £500m on reopening former railway lines that were closed in the 1960s is an intriguing proposition. At present HS2 has been hogging the limelight when it comes to current news reporting on railway issues. Positive investment in growing the UK railway network … Continue reading “What is £500m of railway?”