Shaping Policy, Driving Change: MetroPolis’ Academic Year in Review
By Nicholas O’Dowd, MetroPolis Policy Impact Coordinator
As the academic year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on what MetroPolis has achieved since September. It has been a highly productive year, with MetroPolis firmly consolidating its role as Manchester Met’s policy think tank, amplifying the University’s research to policymakers and shaping decision-making in Greater Manchester, Westminster, and internationally, from Chile to Indonesia.
We began the year with a comprehensive programme of training workshops delivered in collaboration with valued partners, notably including former MP and Manchester Met alumnus Huw Edwards, and Showrunner Communications. A total of 156 researchers, from seasoned academics to doctoral students, took part across a range of disciplines, gaining the skills and confidence to engage with policy effectively. We also raised our profile through the MetroPolis Roadshow, which visited dozens of departments and engaged over 450 researchers, increasing awareness of the support we provide.
A key highlight of the year was the relaunch of the MetroPolis Magazine, themed around young people and the environment. The publication serves as a vital platform to showcase Manchester Met’s policy expertise, with copies shared directly with policymakers in Greater Manchester and Westminster.
We also expanded our policy impact by launching a new initiative to complement the existing Chancellor’s Fellowship, the Chancellor’s Visiting Fellowship, introduced in March 2025. This scheme invites policymakers to work directly with our academics to co-produce research with meaningful policy outcomes. We were delighted to welcome Dr Tomaso Spinelli from the Government Digital Service, and Emily Abbot, co-founder of Intergenerational England, who will help guide regional intergenerational health policy research.
MetroPolis supported a wide range of events throughout the year, from local initiatives such as Manchester Law School’s interdisciplinary sandpits, to large-scale conferences including the Criminal Justice Alliance’s Research Symposium, which drew over 100 delegates from across the sector. We concluded the year by supporting the Community Wealth Building Summit in partnership with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), attended by over 200 delegates, including keynote speakers Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer and economist and author Grace Blakeley.
Our impact has been wide-reaching. Researchers including Dr Lucy Montague, Dr Jasmine Hearn, and Professor Susan Postlethwaite have worked directly with MPs to ensure their findings inform national legislation. Our Chancellor’s Fellows are shaping policy in the UK and internationally, from the Department for Work and Pensions and the College of Policing to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Corrections.
Looking ahead, MetroPolis will continue to build on this momentum, offering training and networking opportunities, supporting academics to influence policy, publishing our annual magazine, and hosting high-profile events that connect policymakers with Manchester Met research. Together, these efforts ensure MetroPolis remains at the forefront of amplifying the University’s policy impact.
