We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2026 LARIA Research Impact Awards. The winners will be announced at the LARIA Conference on Wednesday 25 March, taking place at the Local Government Association in London.

These awards aim to showcase the impact research and data analysis can make at a local level, for example, in understanding the needs of local residents and businesses, or testing innovative activity, or informing local decision-making.

A: Best use of local area research – sponsored by LGA

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a local area or community or an issue that is locally important, and has led to evidence-based decision-making.

B: Best use of data – sponsored by CACI

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully used data to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue that has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Data for the purposes of this award is defined as the use of big data, open data, business intelligence and statistical analysis.

Shortlisted

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority: Ageing in Place Spatial Risk Model: An evidence-based approach to tackling inequalities in ageing
• Oxfordshire County Council: Mapping Need, Pathways and geographic and social inequalities: A Multimethod Analysis of Children’s Social Care Demand and Decision Making in Oxfordshire
• University of Liverpool: The Intervention Index: Data-Driven Prioritisation of £1.58 Billion Transport Investment in Liverpool City Region
• Warwickshire County Council: Business Intelligence Team – Community Safety

C: Best use of data or research in a district council

This award is targeted at district authorities, which often have fewer resources for research and data analysis than other types of council.  To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully used research or data to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue, and how that led to evidence-based decision-making.

Shortlisted

• Colchester City Council: Putting children’s voices at the heart of the design; Colchester Castle play park redevelopment
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Building an evidence base to support reorganisation in Surrey
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Powering life‑changing support for residents through intelligent data insight
• Wyre Council: A map-based interactive dashboard that successfully informed LGR proposals in Lancashire

D: Most engaging communication of local area research or analysis

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully communicated local area research or data analysis to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue. The audience for this communication could include senior decision-makers, staff, the media and the public.

Shortlisted

• Essex County Council: Childhood in Essex: Gen Z and Gen Alpha ‘spilling the tea’ on the everyday realities and the changing landscape of childhood in Essex
• GeoPlace: Policy principles to support the effective use of address data
• Kent County Council: Survivor Voice Ambassadors: embedding lived experience in domestic abuse policy, training and public communication
• Local Government Association: LG Inform App: engaging decision‑makers through clear, accessible data insights

E: New researcher/analyst of the year

This award is given to a researcher or analyst with under five years of experience in a research field who has made an impact. This could be a person of any age, and could be based on a particular project they have led, an innovation they have pioneered or a particularly strong skill set.

Shortlisted

• Jessica Austin: Norfolk County Council
• Matthew Davies: Wirral Council
• Petronella Munhenzva: Wirral Council
• Abi Paggett: Kent County Council