The UK Data Service shares what you can gain from attending our upcoming event, Perspectives on Engagement and Impact – an exciting event for Early Career Researchers.
Taking research beyond the pages of an academic journal isn’t just about sharing your findings, it’s about making those findings matter.
For early career researchers, that means building real connections with the people who can turn evidence into action, discovering how to speak the language of your stakeholders and showing how your work can make a difference to the communities they serve.
At our Perspectives on Engagement and Impact event on the Wednesday 11 February 2026, the UK Data Service is bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders who have extensive experience turning research into data-driven decisions. As an attendee, you’ll connect with people from:
- CLOSER, experts in policy and engagement
- Resolve Poverty
- the NHS
- Royal British Legion
- King’s Global Institute of Women’s Leadership
- Local decision makers and academics
These are people who have dedicated their careers to making research matter – and they are ready to share what works with you.
How can you master the language of policy and impact?
Great research doesn’t speak for itself; it takes work to translate it into a language that drives impact. Through our hands on workshop with CLOSER, policy engagement specialists, you’ll gain practical skills for creating policy briefs that communicate your findings clearly and persuasively.
In this workshop, you’ll work alongside your peers to build a policy brief from the ground up. This practical session will give you the tools and confidence to turn your research into something that speaks directly to decision-makers.
Sign up now to learn how to bridge the gap between academic language and the language of impact.
What matters most to stakeholders?
Ever wondered what charities, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups really need from researchers? At Perspectives on Engagement and Impact, you’ll get the chance to find this out directly from the people who use evidence to create impact every day.
Our novel stakeholder speed dating activity puts you face-to-face with decision-makers – and those who engage with them – from sectors like health, social policy, and advocacy. This is your opportunity to ask the questions you have always wanted answered.
You’ll leave with insights that go far beyond theory, including practical knowledge about their priorities, the barriers they encounter, and the kind of evidence that truly makes a difference in their work.
And to spark even more ideas, we’re introducing lightning keynotes: short, powerful bursts of insights from voices who know what it takes to turn evidence into action. Hear from Tom Pottrill at Resolve Poverty, Chimdimma Noelyn Onah from King’s Global Institute of Women’s Leaderships, policy specialists from CLOSER, and decision makers who put research into practice at the government level.
These rapid-fire talks are designed to challenge your thinking, inspire new approaches, and show you what impact looks like in the real world.
How can the experiences of Data Impact Fellows help you?
At the UK Data Service we have supported multiple cohorts of Data Impact Fellows on their impact journey. At Perspectives on Engagement and Impact, you’ll hear from former Fellows – researchers who have successfully taken their work beyond academia and into the spaces where decisions are made.
Our interactive panel discussion invites both attendees and panellists to ask questions and share experiences. You’ll have the chance to explore what impact looks like in practice with career researchers who are just a few steps ahead of your, making their insights relatable and inspiring.
Curious about career paths beyond academia? Wondering how to navigate the opportunities and challenges when engaging with stakeholders?
Sign up now to learn how to get honest answers and actionable advice from people who’ve been there themselves.
Your impact journey doesn’t have to end here
Perspectives on Engagement and Impact is just the beginning. Here at the UK Data Service, we’re committed to helping you build your impact skills long after you leave Manchester.
Here’s what we offer to support your next steps:
- Opportunities to write for our Data Impact blog, where you can share your story, showcase your research, and inspire others with your impact. Find out how to contribute to our blog in our latest post.
- Training sessions and webinars, through our training and user support team, on everything from data access to analysis.
- Drop-in sessions where you can get tailored advice and guidance on your data-related questions.
- Connections through future Impact events and activities where you can continue to build your network.
And because we believe in putting skills into practice, we’ll be launching an exclusive opportunity for event attendees. This will be your chance to apply what you’ve learned and win a feature on the Data Impact blog and other exciting rewards.
Sign up for Perspectives on Impact and Engagement, taking place on 11 February 2026 in Manchester, to continue on your impact journey.
Your research can make a difference. We’ll help you to make sure it does.
Meet the team
(Left) Finn Dymond-Green (They/Them) is the Director of Impact at the UK Data Service.
(Middle) Eve Little (She/Her) is one of the Impact and Engagement Managers at the UK Data Service.
(Right) Sophie Gawryla (She/Her) is one of the Impact and Engagement Managers at the UK Data Service.
Comment or question about this blog post?
Please email us!