Event Details

Industry and Parliament Trust hosts the interactive training session designed for academics, researchers and other University staff to increase their understanding of UK Parliament. The session looks at the functions and process of Parliament, with a specific focus on how Parliament uses academic research.

Who is this training aimed at?

Academics and researchers. This may also be of interest to staff working in impact, research support and development, and partnership development. Any faculty and department.

This session is for you if you are starting to think about connecting your research to policy makers in Parliament. It will give you an outline of how Parliament works and ways you could provide expert opinion to get your research noticed and make a difference in society. It will also outline opportunities within Government.

As part of this interactive online workshop, Huw Edwards, Parliamentary & Government Training Consultant and former MP, will cover the following topics:

The work of the House of Commons

The work of the House of Lords

Legislative Process

Scrutiny: Select Committees and Parliamentary Questions

Select Committees and academic research

Engaging with MP’s

Scope for research in Government – Chief Scientific Advisors, Liaising with Departments

Ministers, Civil Servants and the policy cycle

External Support

There will be additional time after the session for questions and advice on more specific examples of policy engagement within your field of research or any areas you need further guidance on.

Facilitator: Politician Huw Edwards MBE

Huw has been training consultant specialising in policy engagement for university researchers for the past four years. Since 2005 he has been a training consultant on parliamentary processes, governance and devolution and was previously an Associate Lecturer of the National School of Government Sunningdale. Prior to this, Huw was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouth from 1991-2 and 1997-2005. During his time in Parliament Huw served on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and helped establish the Learning Disabilities and Carers All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Before Parliament Huw worked across many posts in academia. After post graduate research at the University of York, he was appointed as Lecturer in Social Policy at Coventry Polytechnic before moving to the University of Sheffield. He became a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Brighton in 1989 and worked as a Research Consultant with the Low Pay Unit, contributing to the campaign for a National Minimum Wage. He is currently a Research Practitioner at the University of Wales Trinity St David focussing on ‘Wales and Westminster’.

About the Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT)

The IPT is an independent, non-lobbying, non-partisan charity that provides a trusted platform of engagement between Parliament and UK business. The IPT is dually supported by cross-party representation of senior parliamentarians on its Board of Trustees, and through the patronage of its industry supporters. The IPT is non-party political and works with all parliamentarians and businesses of any sector or size.

If you are interested in attending, please could you reply to Mark Bellwood at m.bellwood1@lancaster.ac.uk ASAP as there are limited spaces available for the session.