Our research and evaluation work begins with close attention to the texture of a question: what is actually happening on the ground, who is affected, and what forms of evidence will bring the picture into focus. Projects often involve a mix of interviews, documentary analysis and structured data collection, but the method is always shaped by the problem rather than the other way round. The aim is to produce findings that withstand scrutiny, clarify outcomes and give organisations a realistic sense of how their initiatives are performing, not only in measurable terms but in lived experience.

Policy grows out of competing pressures and shifting contexts. Our work digs into those contexts, examining the wider systems in which organisations operate and the constraints that shape what is possible. We analyse existing policies, trace their implications, and help clients think through workable paths forward. When development is required, we support the creation of coherent, defensible policies that align institutional aims with social, regulatory and technological realities.

Data only becomes meaningful when it reveals something that people can act upon. We draw on quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore patterns, test assumptions and uncover relationships that are not immediately obvious. The reporting that follows is deliberately clear-sighted: analysis translated into prose that allows decision-makers to grasp the underlying story of the data without losing sight of its limits. Whether the material is extensive or fragmentary, the goal is a form of analysis that gives clients a sharper sense of what is driving outcomes.

Our advisory work supports institutions at those junctures when choices have to be made with imperfect information. We bring academic expertise, sectoral knowledge and practical judgement to bear on long-term planning, cultural change and the implementation of new initiatives. The process is collaborative rather than prescriptive: we help clients clarify their priorities, test the strength of their assumptions and develop strategies that stand up to the pressures of real practice.

Artificial intelligence now sits inside everyday institutional processes, often without a clear sense of its risks or long shadows. We provide independent assessments that examine how algorithmic tools are being used, what forms of bias or opacity they may introduce, and how organisations can govern these systems responsibly. This work combines technical understanding with a concern for public trust, regulatory compliance and the broader social effects of automation. The outcome is guidance that helps clients adopt or refine AI systems in ways that are transparent, accountable and proportionate to their purposes.

Higher education and other public-facing sectors are changing under the pressure of new technologies, shifting expectations and reworked funding landscapes. Our work in this area draws on long experience within universities and cultural institutions, as well as ongoing research into how these sectors evolve. We study trends, examine institutional cultures and speak to the people whose work shapes the environment from within. What emerges is analysis that illuminates where sectors are heading, how organisations might adapt, and what forms of evidence are most useful when thinking about the future.