Research Consultant

We are looking to recruit bright, motivated graduates to our Stockport office. The role offers hybrid working, combining time in the office with home-working and time with clients/on fieldwork. Public policy can shape a better society. SQW informs public policy through high quality research, analysis and insight. This includes researching how economies work and change; how research and innovation can be encouraged and lead to societal benefit; how businesses are supported to start-up and grow; and what works in social policy including addressing health inequalities, enhancing people's employment prospects and supporting skills development.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK's leading economic development consultancies, helping our clients to design, deliver and evaluate national and local policy. You will join our Research Consultant Development Programme, which provides structure and support to boost your professional development during the first two years. The programme offers training and opportunities to network with your peers in other offices and work with colleagues at all levels in SQW.

We have specific expertise in a range of policy areas and there are opportunities to work across all areas. These include:

• innovation and business growth;
• spatial and local economic development;
• education, skills and employment;
• health and social care.

Recent examples of projects across these areas include the following:

• Innovation and business growth: evaluations of business support programmes led by the British Business Bank and Be The Business; research on what works in enhancing the diversity of venture capital investment; a socio-economic impact assessment of the Pirbright Institute; a progress evaluation of the Government Office for Technology Transfer; and an impact evaluation of UKRI's Innovation Accelerator Programme.
• Spatial and local economic development: evaluations of City, Devolution and Growth Deal investment funds in thirteen localities across the UK; the development of new economic strategies in Oxfordshire, Dudley, Denbighshire and Coventry and Warwickshire; a ‘Jet Zero' cluster study in Surrey and Hampshire; a study of coastal communities in Suffolk; and the development of new housing development appraisal guidance.
• Education, skills and employment: evaluations of the Work and Health programmes in Greater Manchester and London; research into the impact of involvement by young people in youth activities; research for a national charity on international best practice in work experience for school-age students; the development of local Get Britain Working plans; and skills and labour market analyses for Skills Development Scotland.
• Health and social care: a rapid evidence review on improvement cultures in health and adult social care settings; an evaluation of a programme looking to improve the use of data analytics within social care; and a study to explore the impact of non-statutory and clinical mental health interventions on young people.

Research Consultants play an important role in SQW's project teams, working on a wide variety of assignments. Your work will typically include:

• quantitative data analysis, including analysis of socio-economic statistics, survey findings, and administrative and proprietary data (e.g. business datasets, health and education records, longitudinal surveys);
• literature and policy reviews;
• qualitative data analysis of evidence, including from bespoke primary research and document reviews;
• primary research including interviews, consultations, workshops and focus groups (e.g. with service users, businesses, public bodies);
• contributing to report writing, and the visualisation and presentation of research findings;
• engagement in internal team meetings and discussions, and client meetings and presentations.

There are opportunities to make a real contribution to the business and help our clients shape national and local policy early on in your career with us. You will be ambitious and creative and work to very high standards. You will also take responsibility for your own development in a supportive and challenging environment where you will enjoy variety and continuous learning.

You will have a minimum of a 2.1 first degree in a discipline such as economics, politics, geography or science. A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is desirable. The role requires strong analytical, written and communication skills, sound IT skills, and abilities to work collaboratively and manage your time effectively. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate strong quantitative research skills, including a knowledge of statistical modelling techniques, econometric analysis and data science applications. An understanding of the economic development landscape in the UK and/or relevant professional work experience would also be beneficial – but what is key is that you have a genuine interest and enthusiasm about SQW's areas of work, and that you are keen to learn, develop and contribute.

We offer an excellent remuneration package which includes:

• competitive basic salary;
• performance related bonus;
• flexible working;
• contributory pension scheme with up to 5% matching contributions;
• permanent health insurance and death in service;
• flexible benefits options, which include private health and dental schemes for individuals and their dependents, health screening and bikes to work scheme;
• support for continuous personal and professional development.

We also offer a package of support for the welfare of our employees, and our corporate charitable activities are designed to support well-being through volunteering and our activity-based challenges. SQW is committed to making a positive impact on our clients and society, delivering social value through our work. We maintain an active social value policy, and implement a programme of activities including providing increasing opportunities for staff volunteering and fundraising, facilitated by an employee-led Charity Committee. We are committed to being a net zero company by 2030, which means that we will reduce our emissions as far as is practical and offset the remaining emissions.

The closing date for applications is 22 June 2025. We will be reviewing applications as they come in and so you are encouraged to apply early for the office which you are interested in. Minority ethnicities are under-represented within consulting. To create meaningful change for our clients, our people and our communities, we need diverse talent combined with diverse ways of working. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates of any and all backgrounds.