I’m a social researcher specialising in education and skills, area-based policy and programme evaluation. Since 2009 I’ve been designing, delivering and overseeing research projects for central and local government, private and third sector organisations large and small. I’m currently Head of Research and Insight at Isos Partnership and was previously Deputy CEO at The Centre for Education and Youth.

My first published paper was a call to arms for academic social science to engage more closely with the assets, concerns and priorities of local communities. It’s been a guiding principle behind my research ever since.

In 2021 I co-edited a book called Young People on the Margins, including a chapter in which I draw together a decade of research and thinking I’ve done on area-based inequalities since my PhD.

I sometimes pop up on national radio and TV, making the case for better area-based policymaking to support young people in particular types of neighbourhood. I used to be a regular on the Youth and Education Podcast, and discussed my research on The Sociology Show.

I’ve written a wide range of academic publications and reports. I also made a short film on the garden cities movement and created the Worthing Museum Podcast. I’ve written for the Guardian, the New Statesman and Schools Week, and post about social science and my own research on X and LinkedIn.

My interest in the role people can play in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods led me to co-found the Ancoats Canal Project, now a registered charity which continues to go from strength to strength.