LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association

Mystery shopping - Is it truly market research?
2016-04-06 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/London) | Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4BQ, United Kingdom
This Market Research Society (MRS) event, free for members or non-members, will look at:

When to use mystery shopping and when market research
Survey fatigue – what is cheap is not necessarily effective
Mystery Shopping pricing
DIY or sub-contracting
Tips for successful sub-contracting
Future trends in mystery customer research

Time: 6:00-7:00pm, followed by drinks and networking

Keynote speaker

Paul Grafton
Paul Grafton spent five years as an Army officer following university, before a 13 year career with British Airways in various cabin service management roles, including Inflight Product Manager for narrow bodied aircraft and Concorde, and Training Manager for Shorthaul & Concorde cabin crew. Paul was chosen to take part in BA’s ‘Top Flight’ senior management development programme which included an MBA from Lancaster University. In 1991 he left BA to set up Mystery Shoppers, which has grown to be one of the UK’s leading specialist customer experience research agencies. Paul is a Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. His wealth of experience in the use of mystery shopping for performance management and other business objectives within a variety of industries gives him a privileged insight into how mystery shopping can best fit within the research sector.

LARIA in Scotland (LiStens): Citizens Panels
2016-03-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Perth and Kinross Council, Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom
This will be the first networking event of 2016 for Laria in Scotland.

It is intended to bring together those involved in running or commissioning Citizens Panels, or involved in corporate consultation, across different Scottish Council areas.
The event – hosted by Perth and Kinross Council, in Perth, on 18 March 2016 – will allow for networking and discussion of a number of topics including:

Scottish Survey Core Questions
Pros and cons of running a Community Planning Partnership Panel
How Councils are using the Place Standard Tool
How Commmunity wikis can help develop a story of place

If you are involved in running or commissioning a citizens panel, or are a local area researcher in Scotland, you can book a place here

SSRG Annual Workshop (2016) - Sharing Knowledge and Resources to Improve Practice and Outcomes
2016-03-15 09:00 - 17:00 | BVSC, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR, United Kingdom
Click here to download the full programme and booking form
9.00: Registration and Coffee
9.50: Welcome and Introduction
Martin Stevens, Chair SSRG
10.00: What Might Good Adult Social Care Look Like in Times of Austerity?
John Bolton, Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University
10.40: Big Data: It’s Role, Implications for Data Sharing and the Human Angle
Stephen Curtis, Centre of Excellence for Information Sharing
11.15: Break
11.45: Concurrent Sessions:
(a) Integrated Information: Experience of its Uses and Challenges
Michele Chew, Derbyshire CC and Matt Williams, Leicestershire County Council
(b) An Agenda for a Conversation: How Can NICE Guidelines Help Improve Person-Centred Integrated Working?
Carolyn Denne, NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care, SCIE
(c) Research Governance – Updating the Policy Framework and Social Care Research
Amanda Hunn, Health Research Authority
12.45: Lunch and SSRG AGM
2.00: Concurrent Sessions:
(a) Sharing and Comparing Knowledge across Agencies and Regions
Gordon Smith and Stephen Kerr, Health and Social Care Benchmarking Network
(b) Meaningful and Measurable – The Critical Link Between Information and Practice
Emma Miller, University of Strathclyde and Karen Barrie, Edinburgh University
(c) Driving Forward Research and Evidence for Social Work: Reflections from Northern Ireland on the Development of a Social Work Research and Continuous Improvement Strategy 2015-2020
Anne McGlade and David Bickerstaff, Health and Social Care Board
3.00: Break
3.30: Research Impact: Tales of the Unexpected
Martin Knapp, NIHR School for Social Care Research
4.15: Closing Remarks
5.00: Networking Session: Details to be sent with confirmation of booking and posted to the SSRG website

Impact 2016 - Market Research Society Conference
2016-03-15 - 2016-03-16 | Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London, E1 8GP, United Kingdom
As the Market Research Society celebrates its 70th year, Impact 2016 showcases the research sector’s burning curiosity, its talent to mine dazzling insight and its ability to ignite revolution in business and society.
It’s the leading conference for anyone who wants tap into big ideas, practical guidance and inspiring strategy.

Keynotes:
Gavin Patterson
Chief executive, BT Group
On navigating technological change and the shifting commercial landscape.
Bill Bryson
International best-selling author
On the power of observation, popular enthnography and the joys of the curious mind.
Stan Sthanunathan
Senior vice president, consumer & market insights, Unilever
On the future shape of insight and tactics for riding the new wave of consumer demand.
Richard Osman
Producer and co-presenter of Pointless
On trivia, game shows, audience engagement and the future of programme making.
Rabbi Baroness
Julia neuberger dBe, senior rabbi, West London Synagogue
On effecting meaningful, moral and lasting change in a turbulent society.

See also:

Data visualisation
Insight and design
From data to decision-making
Wearable technology
Researchers share personal stories of change
Immigration and migration
Communicating and activating insight through business
Responses to the polling failures of 2015
Manifestos for tomorrow

LARIA Local event - East of England
2016-02-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Dacorum Borough Council, Civic Centre, Marlowes, Hemel Hempsted, Hertfordshire, HP1 1HH, United Kingdom
Sign up to attend the next LARIA local event in the East of England and hear from the following speakers:
Alan Fletcher, Business Development Manager/Lab Manager – Kmi, The Open University – Open data in the Milton Keynes Data Hub. The practical use of this in the MK Data Observatory

Michael Soper, Research Manager at Cambridgeshire County Council – Engaging with Members
Other topics which will feature:
• Public Health with Local Authorities,
• Research and budgets – helping service planning, and planning research services in the challenging financial future.

ONS Economic Forum - Wednesday 3 February 2016
2016-02-03 09:30 - 12:30
The Hilton Hotel
303 Deansgate
Manchester
M3 4LQ
Wednesday, 3 February, 09:30 – 12:30

We warmly invite you to attend the ONS Economic Forum to be held in Manchester on Wednesday 3 February 2016.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing many of the principal economic statistics that are used to report developments in the UK economy. We are keen to meet users of these statistics, and anybody who is interested in the behaviour of the UK economy, in order to understand how best we can fulfil your statistical requirements and help you make better decisions.
ONS has recently started holding a successful quarterly Economic Forum in London aimed at City commentators, business analysts, media, and academic researchers, as well as government and other decision makers. It provides an opportunity to discuss the state of the economy in the light of relevant ONS economic statistics, including GDP, the labour market, prices and the public finances.
We are now extending these events to other parts of the UK in order to connect with a wider range of analysts and decision-makers. One of the first such events will be held in Manchester on Wednesday 3 February and will provide attendees with the opportunity:

To hear what ONS statistics have to say about the UK economy
To ask questions about ONS economic statistics, what they mean and how they are compiled
To offer views on shortcomings of existing statistics and how they can be improved
To find out what statistics are available for research purposes and how to access them

The agenda will include the following:
UK and regional economic statistics – What ONS economic statistics say about the UK economy and the regions and countries within it
What’s New – a look back over recent ONS economic statistics and developments, and forward to forthcoming publications. This session will include:

Recent developments in the UK economy
Trade, foreign direct investment, and the balance of payments
Analysis of earnings growth using ASHE survey results
Family Spending survey – headline messages
Wealth and assets survey
Bean Review – interim report and next steps
Blue Book 2016 changes
Use of VAT administrative data
Construction output and prices developments
New ONS website plans

Please RSVP to regional.economic.forum@ons.gov.uk , providing details of any accessibility requirements.
We are keen to tailor the ONS Economic Forum agenda to the issues that are of most interest to you. If you have suggestions for topics to be covered at this or at a future ONS Economic Forum, please email them to regional.economic.forum@ons.gov.uk . Similarly if you have any questions about economic statistics, you can email these to the same address and we shall answer them as soon as possible.
We hope you will value this opportunity to hear about the latest economic statistics and discover how they can help you make better decisions. We look forward to welcoming you on Wednesday 3 February.

ONS Economic Forum - Tuesday 26 January 2016
2016-01-26 09:30 - 12:30
Park Plaza Hotel,
Greyfriars Road, Cardiff CF10 3AL
Tuesday, 26 January, 09:30-12:30
We warmly invite you to attend the ONS Economic Forum to be held in Cardiff on 26 January.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing many of the principal economic statistics that are used to report developments in the UK economy. We are keen to meet users of these statistics, and anybody who is interested in the behaviour of the UK economy, in order to understand how best we can fulfil your statistical requirements and help you make better decisions.
ONS has recently started holding a successful quarterly Economic Forum in London aimed at City commentators, business analysts, media, and academic researchers, as well as government and other decision makers. It provides an opportunity to discuss the state of the economy in the light of relevant ONS economic statistics, including GDP, the labour market, prices and the public finances.
We are now extending these events to other parts of the UK in order to connect with a wider range of analysts and decision-makers. One of the first such event will be held in Cardiff on 26 January and will provide attendees with the opportunity:

To hear what ONS statistics have to say about the UK economy
To ask questions about ONS economic statistics, what they mean and how they are compiled
To offer views on shortcomings of existing statistics and how they can be improved
To find out what statistics are available for research purposes and how to access them

The agenda will include the following:
UK and regional economic statistics – What ONS economic statistics say about the UK economy and the regions and countries within it
What’s New – a look back over recent ONS economic statistics and developments, and forward to forthcoming publications. This session will include:

Recent developments in the UK economy
Trade, foreign direct investment, and the balance of payments
Analysis of earnings growth using ASHE survey results
Family Spending survey – headline messages
Wealth and assets survey
Bean Review – interim report and next steps
Blue Book 2016 changes
Use of VAT administrative data
Construction output and prices developments
New ONS website plans

Please RSVP to economic.forum@ons.gov.uk , providing details of any accessibility requirements.
We are keen to tailor the ONS Economic Forum agenda to the issues that are of most interest to you. If you have suggestions for topics to be covered at this or at a future ONS Economic Forum, please email them to economic.forum@ons.gov.uk. Similarly if you have any questions about economic statistics, you can email these to the same address and we shall answer them as soon as possible.
We hope you will value this opportunity to hear about the latest economic statistics and discover how they can help you make better decisions. We look forward to welcoming you on Tuesday 26 January.

Social Research Association Conference 2015
2015-12-14 09:00 - 17:00 | British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
‘Social research in the 21st Century: what makes for evidence we can trust?’
The 2015 SRA Annual Conference on 14 December is now open for bookings – with a 10% early-bird discount on the delegate fee that applies until 31 August.
This year the SRA ask: What are the elements of research that combine to produce robust, high quality findings? Can traditional research methods survive the pressure for quicker, cheaper results? Where do innovation and creativity take us, and how do we assess research done at the cutting edge using new tools and techniques? Do the old methods for judging research quality continue to apply or do we need to develop new assessment criteria? The conference will feature the work, ideas and debates of practicing researchers from all sectors, who face these issues every day.
Keynote speaker: Paul Johnson, Director, Institute of Fiscal Studies
Plenary speakers:

Jane Millar, Institute of Policy Research, University of Bath: People remember stories: Research, evidence and policy
Leon Feinstein, Early Intervention Foundation: What counts as good evidence?
Christine Hine, University of Surrey: The promises and perils of opportunistic data in qualitative research
And a range of workshop presentations

14 December at the British Library conference centre, London
Refreshments and lunch provided, wine reception to follow
£150 delegate fee (discounts for SRA members)
The SRA annual conference is a unique event: it is the only forum the UK has for bringing together social researchers from all sectors and disciplines to share knowledge and ideas, to debate our most pressing professional issues, and, of course, to meet and talk. Every social researcher who wants to keep abreast of what is happening in our profession should be there.

Local Government Data Research Seminar: Supporting local authorities through data driven solutions
2015-11-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Local Government Association, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Friday 20 November, 10am to 3.30pm
Local Government Association

The Business and Local Government (BLG) Data Research Centre jointly with the Local Government Association (LGA) invites you to this seminar where we will bring together researcher and local authority decision makers to understand, explore and define the questions for future research to address local problems.
The seminar will introduce the research topics of the Centre around support for vulnerable people, local economic growth and access to infrastructure followed by presentations from local authority decision makers to present their current issues to meet public service needs.
For the full programme and to book your place, please see here.

Scotland: Laria Listens
2015-11-20 10:00 - 15:00 | Glasgow City Council – Learning Academy, City Chambers, Glasgow, G2 1DU, United Kingdom
The second of what will be regular events and networking sessions to support the work of local area researchers in Scotland, under the umbrella of Laria Listens (Laria in Scotland, Training Events and Networking Sessions)
Come along to Laria Listens if you want to share practice and network with others involved in local area research in Scotland.
Book your place via the eventbrite link below
Please contact Erin Murray ermurray@scotborders.gov.uk or Coryn Barclay coryn.barclay@fife.gov.uk to tell us about any wicked or burning issues you have with local research, analysis and use of evidence, that you would like to see discussed through Laria Listens

LARIA Autumn Conference 2015: Researching together to protect vulnerable people
2015-11-18 | Robinson College, Grange Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 9AN, United Kingdom
Researching together to protect vulnerable people: Poverty, ageing, disability and avoiding the winter crisis
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Robinson College, University of Cambridge
LARIA is pleased to announce the one-day conference on the 18 November 2015 at the University of Cambridge. The full programme is now available. The conference will be a mixture of plenary sessions and breakout sessions. All participants will get the chance to discuss how researching together can protect vulnerable people. The places are priced at just £120 for Corporate Members and £140 for non-corporate members.
The day will be worth 5 hours towards the Market Research Society CPD framework (* please note you must be an MRS Member to gain these hours). For exhibitor opportunities, please see here. We hope that you can join us.

Fire-Related Research and Developments (RE15) Conference
2015-11-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Fire Service College, London Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0RH, United Kingdom
Presentation themes this year include: Performance Management, Financial Resilience and Creating Public Value in FRS; Fire Service Organisation, Leadership and Management; Hazard Perception and Decision-Making; Operational Preparedness, Communication and Emergency Response; Understanding Fire-Related Behaviour and its implications for Fire Service Interventions; Fire Safety, Fire Protection and Fire investigation; and Firefighter Health, Rehabilitation and Wellbeing. Please see the attached programme for more information.

Training: An introduction to data analytics for the public sector
2015-09-29 10:00 - 2015-09-30 16:00 | iLab, University of Essex, Elmer Approach, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1LW, United Kingdom
This two day training course seeks to improve the data skills of junior analysts in the public sector and academic researchers. Focussing on four key areas, each subject compliments the other areas to give a rounded knowledge of using data analytics for the public sector. All of the subject areas will include practical sessions and computer workshops. Upon completion you will leave with improved data analytics skills that are immediately actionable.
There is a special offer for LARIA members of just £200 for the two day course rather than £250.

HSUG/LGA: Housing and Health Workshop
2015-09-28 11:00 - 16:45 | Convocation Suite, Centenary Building, City University London, London, EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom
Use of information across housing and health and social care
Health Statistics User Group and Local Government Association Workshop
Monday 28th September 2015,
Convocation Suite, Centenary Building, City University London
Entrance in Spencer Street, near corner with St John Street
linked with a satellite workshop at the Health eResearch Centre, Manchester
Vaughan House, Portsmouth St, M13 9GB.
(behind the Holy Name church on Oxford Road)
11.00 Workshop Start
16:45 Workshop Close
Housing is a key determinant of health and wellbeing, and plays a significant part in the provision of social care and supporting people to live independently in their own homes.
Poor housing costs the NHS at least £2.5 billion a year in treating people with illnesses directly linked to living in cold, damp and dangerous homes. Treating children and young people injured by accidents in the home costs A&E departments across the United Kingdom around £146 million a year. Among the over 65s, falls and fractures account for 4 million hospital bed days each year in England, costing £2billion. Over 25,000 people die each year in the UK as a result of living in cold temperatures much of this is due to living in poorly heated homes.
Increasingly, health and social care are working together to provide integrated and personalised support. Housing is a crucial component in providing a personalised package of services that promotes independence, wellbeing and choice.
This workshop, hosted by the Health Statistics User Group (HSUG) and Local Government Association (LGA) will focus on links across housing and health and social care, and how data and statistics can contribute and inform this. It will include presentations from a number of speakers working across health and housing, and provide an opportunity for group discussions and feedback drawing on participants’ knowledge and experience of using data and information in this area.
This workshop is free but numbers are limited so you need to register if you wish to attend.
If you wish to register, please contact info@hsug.org.uk stating if you will be attending in London or Manchester.

MRS Networking Event: Seeing the blue ocean - customer research, Bristol
2015-09-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4BQ, United Kingdom
Seeing the blue ocean: Understanding how your research can move the needle for your customers will give you more of a competitive advantage than methodology
The problem: research companies are in danger of all sounding and looking the same.
The opportunity: talking about the customer benefit of data, not the method, will differentiate you. Understanding how and where research helps business and brand to GROW – seeing the blue ocean and looking for the competitive advantage – will drive success for research firms.
This is NOT about quant v qual – it’s about understanding the customer’s business enough to know what will be useful. It’s about more human research.
Have an opinion: Clients value it and come back for more. Even better if you have an opinion that goes against the tide and shows that you see things in a really human, tangible dimension.
Know your customer: Companies need to attract talent, develop marketing and sales, improve systems performance, secure more funding and develop products and services.
Clients don’t want research. They want someone who will help grow their business for them.
Featuring case studies from Malibu and JD Wetherspoons, this presentation will show you that whilst a robust method is important, above all clients want a headline!
Speaker: Steven Fuller
Steven Fuller is Creative Head of brand experts The House. He wholeheartedly believes that #Purpose is the new status – organisations and people are increasingly achieving acclaim by doing work that isn’t about them. His role is to inspire clients to imagine a purpose that is good for shareholders and society, not simply one or the other. His favourite example of this has to be the transformation of thebestof – moving them from selling online advertising to championing the nation’s most referred local businesses.

Census Applications: Using the UK’s population census data
2015-07-16 10:30 - 2015-07-17 15:00 | University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
16 – 17 July 2015
Humanities Bridgeford Street Building, University of Manchester
Now that nearly all census outputs are out and being used the UK Data Service are hosting a two-day conference to celebrate the UK censuses.
The conference will include three plenary sessions:

The value of the Census
Making use of the Census
Challenges for the future

Speakers include:

Danny Dorling and Bethan Thomas
Ian Cope
Keith Dugmore
Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Census Offices

General conference places will cost £100 per person to include drinks, lunch and conference dinner. Student places are available at £50 per person.
Residential accommodation should be booked separately. A Google map of hotels within walking distance of the conference venue is available.
To view the programme and book a place please see here.

LARIA in the East of England networking event: Pointing out the patterns
2015-07-15 10:00 - 16:00 | W309 Classroom, Waterfront, University Quay, Ipswich, IP3 8AH
The next LARIA in the East of England networking event will be looking at understanding your local place and communicating this to others. It will be a chance to look at techniques in how this can be done and how others are doing this and share learning/experience with others.
Speakers:

Dr. Neli Demireva from Department of Sociology University of Essex on defining communities
Paul Barton, Luton’s experience in defining areas
Stuart Keeble, Specialist Registrar in Public Health, Public Health Suffolk – public health and communities
Matt Jukes, Head of Digital Transformation @ ONS – developing ONS website for users
Public Health East of England, future developments on information provision and communication

Photo credit: The nave ceiling (detail), painted by the Rector’s wife, Mrs. Mildred Holland, between 1859 and 1866 — The Church of St Mary, Huntingfield, Suffolk, England by Spencer Means

SRA Summer Event: Researching the coalition years: how has the UK changed?
2015-07-07 14:00 - 17:00 | Local Government Association, Local Government House, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ, United Kingdom
This is the SRA Summer Event on the afternoon of 7 July in Central London, with four presentations:
Social policy in a cold climate: Changes in coalition Britain
John Hills, Director of the Centre for Social Exclusion and Professor of social policy at LSE
Acceptance, backlash or revolution? How did the public respond to 5 years of coalition?
Naomi Jones, Co-group head of social attitudes at NatCen Social Research
Not so risky business: The reality of changing youth behaviours
Carrie Harding & Shadi Ghezelayagh, Education Policy Group, TNS BMRB with Clare Baker, Strategic Analysis and Research Division, Dept for Education
Generation strains: The shifting cultural context in coalition Britain
Bobby Duffy, Managing Director of Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute
The chair is Alison Park, Director of CLOSER, and we’ll have audience questions and discussion after each presentation.
Date & time: Tuesday 7 July, 2 – 5pm followed by a drinks reception on the roof terrace

‘Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences’
2015-05-08 08:00 - 17:00
£45 to £85 for SRA Members, £105 for non-members – 10% early bird discount
This conference will bring together researchers from a range of disciplines and sectors to share experiences and learning.
We are delighted that Professor David Gauntlett from the University of Westminster, author of several books including Creative Explorations and Making is Connecting, has agreed to give the keynote speech.
Four subject experts have agreed to chair workshop streams and form a final panel
● Dr Kitrina Douglas, champion golfer, broadcaster, sports researcher at Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Met), poet and songwriter, will chair the arts-based research workshop stream
● Jamie Bartlett, Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, will chair the research using technology workshop stream
● Matt Barnard, Head of Evaluation at NSPCC, will chair the mixed method research workshop stream
● Dr Molly Warrington, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at Cambridge University, will chair the transformative research frameworks stream
To download the event flyer, click here
Press ‘Register‘ for more information and to book your place.

Chief Fire Officers Association: The call for data answered
2015-04-20 | University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
Following the hugely successful Dying for Data conference held in April 2014, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) will be holding a further data conference entitled “The call for data answered”.
The conference will see the official launch of LIFEBID to UK FRS’s and interested parties. The aim of LIFEBID is to create the world’s first database of actions and motivations in Accidental Dwelling Fires. Unlike fires in commercial, industrial and public spaces, very little is known about human behaviour in ADF’s and yet this is where the majority of injuries occur. LIFEBID will provide detailed knowledge about the circumstances and events prior to the fire service response, and importantly those incidents not attended by the FRS. This is not limited to serious fires only but will capture information from all fires to identify the crucial areas which increase or decrease risk. The conference will enable delegates to:

Understand the development of LIFEBID
Learn about the survey data and associated research
Discuss ways in which this has, and will, provide a means for FRS’s to target resources, further reduce injuries and also consider the role of the public in resolving incidents.

The conference agenda will also see the launch of the CFOA data and research programme. The aim of the programme is to unify FRS’s in their approach to understanding and utilising its own and other agencies data in order to improve the outcomes for the community. You will also hear updates from the NorthWest data sharing trial with health and the Wales data sharing arrangements.

SSRG Annual Workshop - Evidencing Service Improvement for Vulnerable Children and Adults
2015-04-15 09:00 - 18:30 | New Academy Building, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
In the current climate of getting ‘more for less’ it is vital to make service improvements that are based in good evidence. Come to this event to learn about cutting edge thinking and research evidence on commissioning, integration, inspection and research. The event will be hugely useful in preparation for Care Act implementation in 2016! Booking now open!!!

Socio-economic evidence behind the City Deal
2015-03-23 12:30 - 14:00
Find out about the socio-economic evidence behind the Greater Cambridge City Deal. A deal that could see a £1 billion investment in the Greater Cambridge area signed by central government and local representatives.

LARIA in Scotland - Laria Listens March 18th 2015
2015-03-18 10:30 - 15:30 | Satinwood Suite, City Chambers, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow, G2 1DU , United Kingdom
The first of what we hope will be regular events and networking sessions to support the work of local area researchers in Scotland, under the umbrella of Laria Listens (Laria in Scotland, Training Events and Networking Sessions).
If you are interested in coming along to a Laria Listens event to network with others involved in local area research in Scotland.
Please contact Erin Murray or Coryn Barclay to tell us about any wicked or burning issues you have with local research, analysis and use of evidence, that you would like to see discussed through Laria Listens.
Please note that these sessions are intended to complement events from existing networks, such as PAMS, AQMEN, and learning network sessions that will be developed through the Outcomes, Evidence and Performance workstream (formerly Improving Evidence and Data Group) to support community planning partnerships to use evidence more effectively.
Book your place here

Photo credit: Glasgow City Council by Kim Traynor

MRS Annual Conference - Impact 2015
2015-03-17 - 2015-03-18 | Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, 45 Prescot Street, London, E1 8GP, United Kingdom
Shifting markets. Stuttering economies. Political upheaval.
Has there ever been a better time to offer insight based on rigorous research? Impact 2015 will showcase big ideas you can apply for organisations desperate for clarity.
Keynotes:

Paul Polman, CEO Unilever – Hear what five years running one of the world’s biggest consumer giants teaches you about insight, impact and investment in research.
General Sir Richard Shirreff – We need to understand the state of geopolitical upheaval. Who better to ask that an officer who saw action from Northern Ireland to Kosovo – and now fights acts of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict
Sebastian Faulks – Storytelling has become a foundation-stone for corporate marketing – and for creating compelling research briefings. Here’s your chance to learn from a master of the art.
Brendan Dawes, artist and designer – Our world, and our attention, is dominated by dark rectangles of glass and metal. Brendan’s Dawes vision – and the machines he designs – reinterpret it as a distinctly human space.

See also:

Moss Bros on reshaping a brand
Innocent Drinks on unlikely new products
What the BBC discovered about gender representation
Delta Airlines on the passengers time forgot
How Heineken recruited urban adventurers
Rethink Mental Illness’s search for effectiveness
Unilever’s creative revolution in research-business partnering
Marie Stopes’s international insights
BSkyB’s journey into consilience
Technology as creative engine at EE
Citizen’s Advice applying behavioural economics
How Shell rediscovered truckers

Harnessing Open Data for Business Advantage
2014-11-05 | Hallam Conference Centre, 44 Hallam Street , London, W1W 6JJ, United Kingdom
MRS are hosting a full day event, specially designed with a focus on how users have been applying census and other open data, with an emphasis on ‘how to’ case studies and useful lessons learnt.
Wednesday, 5th November 2014
The next CGG seminar will focus mainly on how users have been applying census and other open data, with an emphasis on ‘how to’ case studies and useful lessons learnt.
Topics to be covered will include:

Techniques for visualising population change
Predicting retail performance using data on home and workplace populations
Using census migration and commuting data to analyse who moves where
Geodemographics of use/engagement with the Internet
Open data – suppliers’ update and user experiences
Applications and use cases for samples of anonymised raw data from the census
Social and cultural influences in the digital age – the balance between individual and area data

More details and booking

LARIA One-Day Conference 4th November
2014-11-04 | University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Tuesday 4th November – Manchester Meeting Place, Manchester University
The website is now up and running and ready to take your bookings for the LARIA one-day conference taking place at The University of Manchester on Tuesday 4th November 2014
Reshaping local places and services through local research
This one-day conference offers practical guidance on maximising the use of local research to help reshape local places and services. It covers:
• Getting the best out of customer insight
• Improving policy evaluation to improve outcome
• Using Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)
• Forecasting and predicting future demand for services
• The role of public health
• The future of performance monitoring
• The skills and professional development needed for local researchers, including the launch of our planned new LARIA professional development framework
The seminar is fully accredited by the Market Research Society as part of their professional development framework.
Please click here for more information and to book your place.
Sponsorship packages are also available, please contact the admin for more details.

Photo credit: University of Manchester by Joshua Poh

Office for National Statistics: The Changing Shape of UK Manufacturing
2014-10-22 09:00 - 16:30
The Changing Shape of UK Manufacturing
9:30 – 16:30 Wednesday 22 October 2014
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Conference Centre
Central London
On Wednesday 22 October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are jointly coordinating an event entitled ‘The Changing Shape of UK Manufacturing’.
The event will feature a range of talks from users, producers and suppliers of business statistics and will include engaging discussions about how manufacturing has changed in the UK, highlighting current trends, and how we are measuring these changes. In addition, future business statistic requirements and priorities will be captured via interactive sessions.
The event will be opened by John Pullinger, UK National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority. Other prominent speakers include Lee Hopley from the EEF, Professor Sir Mike Gregory Head of the Manufacturing and Management Division and Institute for Manufacturing (Cambridge University) and Professor Richard Harris from Durham University.
The objectives of the event are to:

share what we know about manufacturing activity of UK businesses;
raise awareness of the importance and coverage of these statistics;
hear from users about the range of uses to which our statistics are put;
discuss future plans and priorities with a range of users.

For updates and announcements, join the conversation on Twitter #UKMfgStats
The event is free of charge, but please note that numbers will be limited and places are filling up fast. If you would like to attend the event please follow the link below and fill in the registration form:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/get-involved/events/events/the-changing-shape-of-uk-manufacturing/index.html
If you have any queries about the event, please do not hesitate to contact: BusinessStatisticsUserConference@bis.gov.uk

SRA Summer Event 2014: Living with austerity – What does research tell us?
2014-07-01 14:00 - 17:00
Since 2010, the UK Government has reduced spending on welfare and made even larger reductions in local government budgets. At the same time the cost of living continues to rise. This event showcases research that can help us make sense of the impacts of austerity.
Living with austerity – how is it affecting the better-off half of the 99%? Danny Dorling (Oxford University)
Families in austerity – a focus on food poverty Suzanne Hall (Ipsos MORI)
Holding on to a home – the impacts and implications of welfare reform Hilary Burkitt (Shelter)
Council Tax Support and Adult Social care: recent work by the National Audit Office Richard Douglas and Sarah Taylor (National Audit Office)
Event chair: Helen Barnard, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
(Please see the website for more details of these presentations)

The event will be followed by a complimentary drinks reception on the LGA rooftop patio overlooking Westminster.

Price: £65.00 (Discounted admission for SRA Members).

Positives and negatives in the Welsh government’s drive for bilingualism
2014-06-27 13:00 - 16:15
A balanced look at the potential for both positive and negative outcomes from these language policy interventions, based on recent research.
Potential positives and negatives in Welsh language policy documents
Dr. Dave Sayers, Sheffield Hallam University & Swansea University
Potential positives and negatives in bilingual education
Dr. Charlotte Selleck, University of Copenhagen
Potential positives and negatives in Welsh language broadcasting
Dr. Elen Robert, Cardiff University
Chair: Professor Gwynedd Parry, Professor of Law and Legal History, Director of the Hywel Dda Research Institute, Swansea University.
More details and booking: http://the-sra.org.uk/event-registration/?ee=171

Please note: Entrance is free to SRA members

Progress and challenges in social research
2014-06-24 11:00 - 13:00
This inaugural event of the SRA’s North and Central England group presents:
The Post Incident Research Programme: A case study of collaborative research in The North
Dr Andrew Clark, University of Salford and Jessica Smith, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
Arts Council England Research Programme 2014-17: Supporting development of and advocacy for the arts and cultural sector
Jonathon Blackburn, Arts Council England.
In Search of Common Ground: Evaluating a project on farmer-grazer conflicts in North West Cameroon
David Drew, Dawn Harris and Veronica Wigley, Village Aid Research Group, Derbyshire
More details and booking: http://the-sra.org.uk/event-registration/?ee=149
