Social Welfare Policy Fellow: key tips for future policy fellows

I’ve always had a keen interest in how policy shapes people's lives and I studied Social Policy and Administration at undergraduate level. Policy engagement has been a key thread throughout my career initially in the social welfare sector with posts in the voluntary sector and local government and now as a social policy academic and board member for several national projects with organisations such as the Trussell Trust and Money and Pensions Service.

My current policy engagement focuses on social security, debt and homelessness - massive (and often contested) areas which lead me in many different, and at times unexpected, directions. Recent examples of my policy analysis activities are working with academics from around the UK on an assessment of the General Election 2024 manifesto pledges, work with the Ministry of Justice to identify a set of best practice principles for prisoners who experience debt, and a policy briefing exploring the UK’s support for Ukrainian refugees.

My appointment as a Nottingham Civic Exchange Policy Fellow has really helped me to think, plan and work in a more effective and strategic way. Here are my key tips for future policy fellows:

1. Talk: the most useful element of my policy fellow role has been the opportunity to talk to a wide range of policy engaged colleagues, including NCE staff, and community stakeholders.  These conversations have made me a better policy analysist, sharpened the way I communicate (thinking, for example, about where and how we publish our work), and ensured my work is better targeted.
2. Expand your networks: as NTU’s place-based think-tank, NCE is connected to an impressive range of local, regional and national agencies. Utilise these networks to ensure you are engaging with the most appropriate people and organisations and maximising your reach and impact.
3. Be open minded: naturally as academics we have our areas of expertise and interest. However, working in the policy sphere is messy and we need to be prepared to respond to unexpected issues. A nimble and flexible approach is required, sometimes occupying new and uncomfortable spaces.
4. Track and monitor impact: policy fellows need to be able to highlight the impact of their work. This should be realistic and focus on ‘quick wins’ and the harder, more long-term impact. Utilise the support that the fellowship offers to articulate the value of your policy engagement, why it is important, who benefits from it, and the influence it has.

Some next steps for me include bringing together stakeholders to consider how AI affects social security decision making, to think about the local provision of welfare rights services and reviewing financial support during the Covid-19 pandemic.