Emergency Services Research Unit (ESRU)
The Emergency Services Research Unit (ESRU), in the Division of Psychology at NTU, not only conducts award winning research but also provides teaching, training, and consultancy for the emergency services and allied organisations.
ESRU’s work with the emergency services, and its focus on emergency events and disaster, has led to the unit gaining an international reputation for excellence and expertise. This multi-disciplinary unit contains academics with specialist expertise in psychology, business management, sociology, research methods, leadership studies, disaster, political theory, accountancy and finance. In addition to ESRU’s core membership, the unit also draws in other academics from other disciplines throughout the University, as and when required for specific projects.
ESRU provides the emergency services with access to expert knowledge, which draws on both theoretical understandings and empirical findings. It can act as a source of neutral authoritative data which can provide an evidence base for policy making and operational strategy. It provides the emergency services with access to practical expertise which is different from, but complementary to, their existing expertise. ESRU’s focus has meant that due attention is now being paid to previously under-researched and unresearched topics of relevance both to the emergency services and to society.
ESRU members have worked in partnership with, or been commissioned by, a diverse range of organisations including:
- NHS Counter Fruad and Security Management
- Department of Culture, Media and Sport
- The Fire Service College
- The Firefighters Charity
- Individual Fire and Rescue Services
- Trauma Training Ltd
- Time Learning Consultancy
- CoatiXL
- REST UK
- Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
News
The ESRU Newsletter 
is produced annually and provides regular updates on ESRU activities.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about the work of the Emergency Services Research Unit, or you wish to commission research or training please contact us by email. Alternatively you can contact Viv Brunsden, Head of ESRU, on +44 (0)115 848 6824 or via email.
