Placecast Episode 16: Beyond Publications - Building Research Careers That Matter

Placecast Episode 16: Beyond Publications - Building Research Careers That Matter

In this episode of PlaceCast, Rebecca Riley talks to Dr Conor O’Carroll about how research careers need to evolve to better support place-based policy and real-world impact. Dr O'Carroll argues that traditional academic pathways, particularly the PhD as a route into academia, are no longer fit for purpose, with most researchers working beyond universities. The conversation highlights the need to move away from narrow publication-based assessment toward recognising skills, collaboration, and societal impact. The episode emphasises stronger partnerships, placements, and cross-sector mobility as key to connecting research with local economies. Overall, it calls for a more flexible, skills-focused research system that delivers greater value for people and places. Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/] production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable. GUEST SPEAKER DR CONOR O’CARROLL Dr Conor O'Carroll is Director of SciPol Services Limited. As an independent consultant on research and higher education policy and funding, he focuses on researchers' career development with special attention to doctoral education and career assessment. He began his career as a physicist, graduating from University College Dublin with a BSc and MSc, and later pursued a PhD in Italy at the University of Pavia and the European Joint Research Centre, IPSRA. He's a lead assessor for the EC Human Resource Excellence in Research Award and has worked on revising the European Researchers' Charter and Code. He's led European policy initiatives on open science and doctoral training, such as the development of the European Innovative Doctoral Training Principles and the European Framework for Research Careers. Dr O'Carroll is an active researcher on national and European research policy, R&D, higher education, and researcher mobility policy, and is an accomplished commentator on R&D and higher education policy and funding. Recently, he led a year-long study on implementing the new European Charter for Researchers with 16 countries. View Dr O'Carroll's LinkedIn profile. [http://linkedin.com/in/conor-o-carroll-research?originalSubdomain=ie] HOST REBECCA RILEY Professor Rebecca (Bec) Riley is Co-Director of City-REDI [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/city-redi], Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Engagement, Director of the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/city-redi/lpiphub], and Professor of Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact at the University of Birmingham’s Business School. Bec joined the University of Birmingham nine years ago to set up City-REDI, to build a distinctive local, regional, national and international research platform through the development of a Birmingham approach to understanding and facilitating growth in city regions. View Rebecca’s Full Profile [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/business/riley-rebecca] Find out more about the LPIP Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/]. Transcript from the podcast [https://blog.bham.ac.uk/lpip/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2026/06/PlaceCast-Ep.-16-–-Beyond-Publications-Building-Research-Careers-That-Matter-Transcript.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Placecast Episode 15: Data, Devolution and Delivery

In the latest episode of Placecast, host Dr Nicola Headlam is joined by Richard Jeffery, National Director at GC Insight and long‑standing leader in local economic development, and Nathan Shoesmith, Economic Consultant at GC Insight, specialising in data‑driven economic development and place‑based strategy. Together, they explore a deceptively simple question with profound implications for policy and practice: what actually makes places grow? The conversation ranges from mayoral devolution and business support to data literacy, optimism in tough policy environments, and the often‑overlooked power of foundational economies. What emerges is a compelling case for putting evidence, place and people back at the heart of growth. Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/] production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable. GUEST SPEAKERS RICHARD JEFFERY Richard Jeffery is National Director at GC Insight, part of The Growth Company, with over 25 years’ experience designing and delivering enterprise and business support programmes across the UK. Richard is an economic development leader, skilled in business growth, international trade and investment, business planning, strategic planning, business development and funding. He is leading the national expansion of The Growth Company’s support services, providing advisory services to local areas, government departments and private partners on how best to design and deliver business growth programmes. He founded the UK’s first Growth Hub, which became the blueprint for the national network, and has since led major programmes supporting thousands of businesses to start, grow and innovate. He has also been at the forefront of data-led innovations such as Growth Flag. View Richard's LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanshoesmith/] NATHAN SHOESMITH Nathan Shoesmith is a Consultant at GC Insight, specialising in data‑driven economic development and place‑based strategy. He leads on insights and analysis across the UK for Growth Flag, a predictive business growth tool supporting local and national decision‑making on business support, place-making and investment. Nathan has a proven track record in analysing complex datasets and government policies, and is an experienced communicator, author, and TEDx speaker. In 2025, Nathan was named Institute of Economic Development Rising Star of the Year in recognition of his work in local and national economies, as well as leadership in data innovation, youth and mental health advocacy. View Nathan's LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanshoesmith/] HOST Dr Nicola Headlam  Nicola has over 20 years of experience working across all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system, including central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation, and industry. Along the way, she has honed her expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in shaping place, and in utilising data and evidence for transformation. View Nicola's LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-headlam-26451711/] Find out more about the LPIP Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/]. Transcript from the podcast [https://blog.bham.ac.uk/lpip/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2026/05/Placecast-Episode-15-summary-transcript.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Placecast Episode 14 - Power, Trust, and Community Organising in Birmingham

How do communities move from being consulted to being genuinely heard? What does it take to turn knowledge into influence, and influence into action? And what happens when universities, civil society and local leaders commit to working together over the long term rather than through short-term projects? In this episode of Placecast, we explore these questions through a rich conversation grounded in Birmingham and shaped by decades of lived experience. Bringing together Angela Jeffery, Saidul Haque Saeed and Professor Sara Jones, the discussion focuses on community organising, civic leadership and the often-unseen relational work that makes meaningful change possible. Rather than abstract theory, the podcast draws on concrete examples from neighbourhoods, institutions and campaigns that have reshaped how power operates at a local level. Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/] production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable. GUEST SPEAKERS Angela Jeffery Angela Jeffery has been working at the interface between communities, universities, business and the public sector for the last 25 years. She is the Co-Chair of Birmingham Citizens UK, (an alliance of Faith, Education, Community and Union partners), Director at the Blesst Centre (a social enterprise focussed on supporting young people’s mental and physical health), Executive Director at Saathi House (a women’s charity in Aston focussed on empowering local women and young people to achieve their full potential and contribute positively to society) and Programme Lead with Community Connexions at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust.  Visit Angela’s LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-jeffery-7901384/] Saidul Haque Saeed Saidul Haque Saeed is the Lead Organiser for Citizens UK, supervising its work in the West Midlands and supporting the development of professional organisers and civil society leaders. Visit Saidul's LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/saidulhaquesaeed/] Professor Sara Jones Sara Jones is Professor of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Birmingham. Her current research focuses on the intersection of memory studies and migration studies with a focus on Europe’s East. Sara is the academic lead for major cultural and community partnership initiatives. HOST Dr Nicola Headlam  Nicola has over 20 years of experience working across all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system, including central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation, and industry. Along the way, she has honed her expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in shaping place, and in utilising data and evidence for transformation. View Nicola's LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-headlam-26451711/] Find out more about the LPIP Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/]. Transcript from the podcast [http://blog.bham.ac.uk/lpip/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2026/05/Placecast-Episode-14-Transcript-final.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Placecast Eps 13 - Planting Trees You’ll Never Sit Under: Why Nature Recovery Is Central to Regional Development

What if nature recovery wasn’t a “nice to have”, but a foundation of regional development? What if parish councils, farmers, and local communities were recognised as national assets rather than peripheral actors? And what if the future of England’s economy depended not only on cities, but on the rural places that quietly sustain them? In Episode 13 of Placecast, host Nicola Headlam is joined by Professor Jane Wills, University of Exeter and LPIP Hub Delivery Team member and Dr Jack Reed, Research Fellow, University of Exeter, to explore exactly these questions through the Nature Recovery and Regional Development project. Their conversation moves from parish halls to Parliament, from oak trees to economic strategy, and from the hyper‑local to the national, revealing why place‑based leadership matters more than ever. Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/] production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable. GUEST SPEAKERS Jane Wills is Professor Emerita, and she previously worked at the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science [https://dees.exeter.ac.uk/cges/] (CGES) in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science (DEES) at the University of Exeter in Cornwall, UK. She was affiliated with the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) [https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/esi/] on campus and was its Director between 2020 and 2023. Jane's most recent research interests have focused on nature recovery and its integration into regional development policy and practice.  Jack Reed is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working at the intersection of nature recovery, regional development and environmental sociology. Jack is based at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) in Penryn and also works with the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP) in Exeter. Jack's current research explores how nature recovery intersects with rural economies, emerging technologies and public policy. As part of the ESRC-funded Nature Recovery and Regional Development (NaRReD) project, Jack is collaborating with councils across Britain's Leading Edge to design new approaches for tracking the social and economic impacts of nature recovery, particularly around health, wellbeing, education and place-based development. Through this work, I'm engaging with nature markets like Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and thinking critically about their implications for policy and investment. HOST Dr Nicola Headlam has over 20 years of experience working across all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system, including central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation, and industry. Along the way, she has honed her expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in shaping place, and in utilising data and evidence for transformation. In 2024, she became a freelance economic advisor on the role of leadership and partnerships, urban and living lab forms for research, future of cities and foresighting methods, urban transformations, place-branding and urban regeneration and the spatial consequences of public policy. View Nicola's LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-headlam-26451711/] Find out more about the LPIP Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/]. Transcript from the podcast [https://blog.bham.ac.uk/lpip/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2026/04/Placecast-Episode-13-Transcript.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Placecast Eps 12: Long Games and Local Places: How Rural Policy Really Changes

In the latest episode of Placecast, Professor Michael Woods, Director of the Cymru Wledig LPIP (Rural Wales), offers a rich and thoughtful journey through Welsh devolution, rural policy, and the power of deeply embedded place-based research. It’s a conversation that blends decades of academic insight with a grounded understanding of how communities, policymakers, and researchers mutually shape one another. Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/] production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable. GUEST SPEAKERS Professor Michael Woods is the Director of the Cymru Wledig LPIP (Rural Wales) [https://www.lpip.cymru/], the Local Policy and Innovation Partnership for Rural Wales. It connects academic researchers, public bodies, third and private sector organisations and communities to enhance the use of research and innovation to support effective policy-making, sustainable regional development, and the wellbeing of people and places across rural Wales. Michael Woods joined Aberystwyth University as a Lecturer in Human Geography in 1996, became Professor in 2008, and has since held major leadership roles, including Director of the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences and Professor of Transformative Social Science. A leading rural and political geographer, he co-directs WISERD@Aberystwyth, has led major international projects such as the ERC-funded GLOBAL-RURAL and Horizon 2020 IMAJINE, and previously co-directed the Wales Rural Observatory. He is Editor of the Journal of Rural Studies, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Learned Society of Wales, and an award‑winning researcher with visiting posts in China, Slovenia and Australia, as well as service on the Welsh Government’s Independent Review of Student Finance. Find out more about Michael [https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/dges/staff-profiles/listing/profile/zzp/] HOST Dr Nicola Headlam has over 20 years of experience working across all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system, including central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation, and industry. Along the way, she has honed her expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in shaping place, and in utilising data and evidence for transformation. In 2024, she became a freelance economic advisor on the role of leadership and partnerships, urban and living lab forms for research, future of cities and foresighting methods, urban transformations, place-branding and urban regeneration and the spatial consequences of public policy. Find out more about the LPIP Hub [https://lpiphub.bham.ac.uk/]. Transcript from the podcast [https://blog.bham.ac.uk/lpip/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2026/03/Placecast-Episode-12-with-Professor-Michael-Woods-Transcript.pdf] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.