Applied UK Policy Influence & Leadership

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:   

• Analyse complex UK policy problems and provide evidence-based recommendations for informing policymakers.   

• Work effectively with the UK Government, Parliament, and other domestic stakeholders on co‑produced projects.   

• Navigate political and ethical issues in UK policy engagement.   

• Champion UK policy engagement within their Departments (mentoring others, building links).   

• Understand the value of policy engagement as part of a rounded academic career. 

This course is open to Associate Professors, Readers and full Professors. To apply, please complete the application form by Friday 28 August and return it to the.forum@imperial.ac.uk.  

Any questions, please contact Pete Ford, Head of the Imperial Policy Forum.

Day 1 

Module 1 – Evidence, Politics and Expertise in the UK 

• Introduction to the role of evidence in UK policymaking  

• How do decision makers use evidence? What external sources do they rely on (think tanks, academia, charities)?  

Module 2 – UK Policy Design & Options Analysis 

• Approaches to UK policy analysis 

• • Unique challenges to implementation and why good policies may fail 

• • Common failure modes for academics seeking to engage policy makers  

Module 3 – Working with UK Government Departments  

• How to build networks with government officials: 

• • Understanding departmental structures and policy cycles. 

• • How advice travels in a department. Who is best to target? 

• • Transitioning to enduring relationships; secondments, joint research questions, and the challenge of ‘churn’. 

• Practicalities of working with government : 

• • Rapid briefs 

• • NDAs, data sharing, the importance of infosec 

• • Security clearances + approaching sensitive policy areas.  

Module 4 – Working with Parliament and UK Intermediaries 

• How to work with Parliament and other policy intermediaries to achieve impact: 
  • Parliamentary Select Committees, Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology. 

• • How do think tanks, charities, learned societies influence policy, and how can experts work with them?  

• When to work through intermediaries vs direct engagement and the role scientists can play in shaping policy decisions. 

External Panel of Experts + Networking 

• Fireside chat Q&A with a panel of senior policymakers who have extensive experience working in government and with experts, followed by a networking session 

Day 2 

Module 5 – Advanced UK Policy Communication  

• Effective UK-focused influencing strategy 

• • Clearly defining goals (policy change, joint research venture, institutional upskilling).  

• • Deciding on which leavers to pull: Parliament, civil service, local government, devolved government, external influencers. 

• Communicating uncertainty and the importance of ‘so what’? 

• Working with the media and social media  

Module 6 – Leadership, Ethics, & Departmental Capacity Building 

• Managing impartiality, advocacy, improving inclusion and representation.  

• Ethical dilemmas (e.g., operating as a researcher in a contested policy environment; handling situations where your advice may not be taken forward).   

• Promoting policy engagement with Departments  

Module 7 – Advising government as an expert 

• Interactive ‘role play’ session where participants practice providing science advice to a panel of senior policymakers. Session is intended to prepare participants for the different perspectives and challenges that policymakers have.