Bringing Research into Policy: Reflections on My Secondment at the Department for Work and Pensions
By Dr Katy Jones, Chancellor's Fellow
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to undertake a short-term policy secondment at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This experience, part of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Chancellor’s Fellowship and supported by the University’s MetroPolis think tank, provided a unique and valuable chance to work from within government at a time of considerable reform in employment services.
As a Reader in Employment and Head of Manchester Met’s Decent Work and Productivity Research Centre, I’ve spent much of my academic career researching Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) in the UK. This includes leading projects such as the ESRC-funded Universal Credit and Employers study, which recommended a shift away from the “any job” approach to one focused on promoting “good jobs.” More recently, I’ve been working on a Nuffield Foundation-funded project looking at Universal Credit, good work and progression.
My secondment was primarily based in the DWP’s in-work progression team. I contributed to a range of workstreams, including reviewing fieldwork instruments for ongoing DWP research and drafting a policy briefing on how “good work” can be operationalised—an idea increasingly gaining traction across government, particularly in light of the ambitions set out in the Get Britain Working white paper.
During my time at the Department, I had the opportunity to feed into the Department’s Universal Credit Review, bringing insights from our research with employers on issues around fluctuating earnings. I visited offices in Leeds, Sheffield, and London, and engaged with a wide array of civil servants from across teams including those developing the new Jobs and Careers Service, Trailblazers, Disability Confident, “user research”, Occupational Psychology and Disadvantaged Groups. These interactions provided insights into the workings of a large and sometimes complex Government Department – and the different roles that policy leads, analysts, and “user researchers” play in shaping and delivering employment services. I was also able to visit several Jobcentres, which was a valuable opportunity to see how policy is translated into practice.
A key insight from my secondment has been the importance of building strong relationships across the Department in order to navigate its structure and collaborate effectively. Crucially, researchers must move beyond surface-level engagement with “DWP officials” and develop a deeper understanding of the specific roles individuals hold—for example, whether someone works in a policy or analytical capacity significantly shapes how they interact with research and the potential for its influence. Establishing broad networks across teams is essential not only for identifying where research can add value, but also for maintaining continuity and impact in a context where a certain level of staff turnover and internal movement is inevitable.
It also reinforced for me how vital a unifying concept—like “good work”—is to guiding interrelated policy areas across such a large organisation.
Looking ahead, I am planning an Areas of Research Interest event in March 2026 to bring together researchers from Manchester Met and beyond, whose work speaks directly to the DWP’s policy agenda. The experience of being embedded within the Department will undoubtedly shape my future research. It’s given me a clearer view of the DWP’s evidence needs, and how we as academics can design projects that are more aligned with policy development.
Ultimately, this secondment has deepened my commitment to working on how to embed the concept of “good work” in employment policy and practice—supporting a shift that benefits individuals, employers, and society.
