Taking a personalised approach to answering specific research questions or addressing challenges, our multi-discipline academic experts work closely to provide practical, real-world solutions.

We can offer impact evaluation of your projects and services; analyses of what strategies and initiatives work in your industry sector; specialist research to support product development and prototypes; and development of your customer base or audience.

Make use of our expertise to achieve business growth and/or gain new innovative perspectives and insights.

Recent research that illustrates our impact and appeal includes:

Demonstrating that the use of Justice Support Dogs to help victims of crime enhances the quality of evidence and leads to more secure convictions, leading to their use being commissioned throughout criminal justice systems in the UK, Canada and all 52 US states.
‘Arts in Prison’, an exploratory project aiming to give a voice to those who participate in art-based programmes within prison settings. Foreign national prisoners from HMP Maidstone participated in a series of four workshops to create and develop a co-collaborated evaluation tool of prison arts.
Development of robotic assistive technology - a wearable, lower limb 'exoskeleton' - to help children with cerebral palsy (CP) and other neurological conditions stand and walk as part of their rehabilitation therapy.
Developing the first UK national physical activity recommendations and clinical guidance for pregnant and postpartum women with supporting standards and training for health professionals.
Working with Topigs Norsvin, a leading swine genetics company, to develop commercially viable ways of freezing pig embryo so that they can be shipped rather than transporting live animals themselves.
Partnering with Canterbury Festival to evaluate its 2022 ‘Beautiful Noise Community Music Day’ and supporting festival organisers to better understand the event’s impact on widening audiences, health and wellbeing, place-making and community connection, accessibility, and inclusion. This research will improve arts and culture engagement opportunities in participants’ local communities.
A new assessment framework for registered firearms dealers and gun owners which has been adopted by all 43 police forces across England, safeguarding communities and leading to the closure of multiple criminal enterprises.
Creating scientific solutions with Comax Life Sciences to combat transmission of diseases and improve quality of life.
A new approach to delivering sport and physical activity for the least active, increasing physical activity levels among 1.1million young people, and supporting over half a million young people to newly achieve activity levels exceeding national guidelines.
Developed new eligibility protocols that facilitated the inclusion of athletes with Intellectual Disabilities in the Paralympic Games and other elite global sporting competitions.

Browse some of our previous projects to see how our commissioned and contracted research has supported local organisations, sectors, and industries, or contact our Enterprise & Engagement Team to discuss your project ideas.

* Research Excellence Framework results released in 2022