Understanding and tackling complex public health challenges requires strong collaboration between researchers and policymakers. Over the past year, I had the opportunity to help shape such a collaboration through the Hampshire County Council (HCC) Catapult Fellowship Scheme, a programme designed to connect PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the ÃÛÌÒTV (UoS) with local authority teams to provide much-needed research capacity. This initiative emerged from a key observation in my role as the Champion for Tackling Health Inequalities at Public Policy Southampton - local councils often face pressing policy questions that would benefit from academic expertise but may lack the dedicated research resources to explore them in depth.
Identifying the Need
In Autumn 2023, an event in Southampton funded under the Tackling Health Inequalities strategic theme provided valuable insights into inequalities-related issues in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with significant contributions from Hampshire County Council (HCC). Following the event, further meetings were arranged to explore how UoS could continue supporting these efforts, while also providing career development opportunities for early-career researchers (ECRs). At the same time, my colleague Yaryna (PP|S Policy Engagement Manager) was piloting a scheme linking PhD students with Southampton City Council (SCC) for targeted rapid reviews addressing policy questions posed by Councillors. While this initiative was proving beneficial, I saw an opportunity to expand the model to offer a more in-depth research engagement approach.Ìý
Through conversations with Dr. Mohammed Jawad and Dr. Abolanle Lawal from HCC’s public health team, we explored the idea of a dedicated fellowship programme that would provide structured placements for PhD students and postdocs to conduct deep dives into local policy-relevant issues. These discussions led to the creation of an open call for interested researchers, which attracted a highly competitive pool of applicants.
From Concept to Implementation
The response to the call was impressive, highlighting the enthusiasm among early-career researchers to engage with real-world policy challenges. The selection process was rigorous, ensuring that the chosen fellows had both the research skills and the ability to translate academic insights into practical recommendations. We decided to open the call to candidates with a background in health, biomedical, or social sciences, ensuring they would be able to quickly grasp the topics and begin their work without delay.
The selected fellows embarked on projects tackling a diverse range of public health topics, from evaluating policies aimed at reducing drug and alcohol abuse to increasing vaccine uptake among pregnant women. Yaryna’s experience with the previous scheme helped in tailoring this one based on HCC’s needs. Unlike the SCC rapid review model, this scheme allowed for a more in-depth exploration of these issues, giving researchers the time and space to generate more substantial insights for policy application with guidance from HCC staff.
Personal Reflections and Key Takeaways
For me, this experience reinforced the immense value of creating structured pathways for academic-policy engagement. It was very rewarding to see ECRs gain hands-on experience collaborating with policymakers and witness how their findings could directly influence local decision-making. This experience also offered valuable insights into designing policy-research partnerships that are mutually beneficial, while deepening my understanding of how local authorities operate and make decisions.
As we move forward, we are arranging final presentations for the HCC members, where fellows will showcase their findings and discuss their potential impact. For this the PP|S comms team also helped develop infographics which could summarise the outputs in an engaging manner, along with the summary reports and slide sets prepared by the ECRs.Ìý
This initiative was made possible through the PP|S allocation from Research England’s Policy Support Fund, which enabled us to support this as a paid opportunity for ECRs. In addition, it gave me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of local public health challenges and the critical role of HCC in addressing them. The experience also highlighted the differences between academic research, where timeframes can be flexible, and policy research, where swift action is often required.
Looking Ahead
The success of this scheme highlights the potential for similar partnerships across various policy areas. It provides an opportunity to refine and expand the model, ensuring that academic expertise continues to play a vital role in informing local decision-making. As the ÃÛÌÒTV strengthens its civic agreement, these partnerships are even more important for fostering collaboration between academia and local communities. PP|S can support future initiatives that deepen these connections, enabling us to shape meaningful solutions that have a tangible impact on local issues. This aligns with our commitment to supporting the region's growth and addressing pressing challenges, as outlined in the University's civic agreement.
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