Writing Impact into Funding Applications An Introduction to Writing Impact into Funding Applications

Summary Context of impact Staying competitive How to formulate impact statements within the Je-S application system Research planning – possible routes to research-led impact Questions

Context: ‘Excellence with Impact’ Research and innovation are seen by Government as essential to maintaining and developing the UK’s position in the global economy. As a result over the past decade more funds have been made available for research, £3.4 billion in 2007/8 compared to £1.3 billion in 1997. At the same time, there is a growing demand for the research community to demonstrate the value of this investment by showing the impact of their research.

Context: the Impact Cycle AHRC bid for continued funding Government Spending Review Money for Arts and Humanities disciplines Societal Impacts

Staying Competitive Understand the requirements for the three sections that relate to Impact in research council applications: academic beneficiaries, impact statement and impact plan – and work beyond that to show potential impact throughout your application. Be detailed, realistic and reasonable.

Staying Competitive Where possible plan for impact by including partners and any potential beneficiaries of your research from the off-set.

Impact Sections of Je-S forms: Within the online Je-S application system there are three main sections on impact:

How to write impact: Academic Beneficiaries  This requires a statement on how your proposed research will contribute to:  knowledge in your discipline and if applicable across disciplines; knowledge in your institutional research environment, other UK academic environments and the International research environment as appropriate.

How to write impact: Academic Beneficiaries Pick out the relevance of the research to the beneficiaries: potential academic impact of the proposed work; how the research will benefit other researchers (this might include methodological or theoretical advances); whether the research will produce data or materials of benefit to other researchers. Explain how these will be stored, maintained and made available; explain any collaboration with other researchers and their role in the project.

How to write impact: Impact Summary This section requires you to cover the following three questions: Who will benefit from your research outside academia? How will they benefit from your research? What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit from this research?

Impact Summary: Who will benefit from this research? The research councils are looking for a consideration of the widest possible audience for your research. List any beneficiaries from the research - those who are likely to be interested in, or to benefit from the proposed research – both directly or indirectly.

Impact Summary: Who will benefit? Consider a wider group than your immediate field of interest. For example consider: Public, private and third sectors who might use the results to their advantage? Examples include museums, galleries and charities. Is there anyone, including policy-makers, within international, national, local or devolved government and government agencies who would benefit from this research?  Are there any beneficiaries within the wider public?

Impact Summary: How will they benefit from this research? Consider how the groups identified will benefit: Explain what the impacts will be and what their importance will be; Estimate the realistic timescales for the benefits to be realised; Consider the transferable skills the research will bring to those involved in the project and how they could then be applied in other employment sectors.

Impact Summary: How will they benefit? Explain how the research has the potential to impact on the nation’s health, wealth or culture. For example could the research: foster global economic performance, specifically the economic competitiveness of the UK? increase the effectiveness of public services and or policy? enhance quality of life, health and creative output?

Impact Summary: What will ensure benefit? What will be done to ensure that they benefit from this research? Detail how the proposed research project will be managed to engage users and beneficiaries and increase the likelihood of impacts. This might include: Communication and engagement plans; Collaboration arrangements; Plans for exploitation, where appropriate; Relevant experience and track record.

How to write Impact: Impact Plan The Impact Plan (an attachment to the case for support of up to two pages long), asks you to expand on the Impact Summary.  This section is an opportunity to describe how the potential impacts of your research will be realised.  Describe how the proposed research will be managed in terms of engaging with the suggested beneficiaries in order to increase impacts.  Tailor and target the impact plan to be relevant and specific to the intended beneficiaries. An innovative and creative approach is encouraged.

How to write impact: Impact Plan When completing the Impact Plan, consider:  Methods of communicating and engaging with the identified beneficiaries and any appropriate collaboration and exploitation methods;  Your track record in this area; Individual responsibilities for different activities amongst the team (PI, Co-I, RAs and studentships) and external partners;  Resource implications for the financial summary and the Justification of Resources attachment. If costs are not included in the bid, state how they will be covered.

Can funding for impact activities be requested in an application? Yes. The costs of activities aimed at developing pathways to impact and engaging with beneficiaries can be included alongside other communication costs. But, all activities for which costs are requested must take place within the period of the grant.

Improving your Impact Consider the Impact Plan and Impact Summary as documents which demonstrate to the reviewer the benefits of your project, which will strengthen the hand of the Research Councils in seeking Government funds for research. Ask a colleague or RBDO to comment on your Impact Plan, if you wish. Structure your Impact Plan.

Improving your Impact Try to provide information using clear headings which correspond to the areas identified in the guidance. Make it easy for reviewers from a related field to see the broader benefits of your proposed work. Expand on your answers to the three questions addressed in the Impact Summary, (who, how, what?), with a particular emphasis on ‘What will be done’.

Further Guidance Research Councils provide specific guidance notes on their own web-sites. The Je-S application system has clear guidance too, associated with the relevant sections and the ‘Attach Impact Plan’ Help Page.

Web links for guidance: Organisation Weblink for information AHRC http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Documents/ImpactFAQ.pdf AHRC PowerPoint presentation on Impact http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Events/Documents/armaimpact.pdf EPSRC http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/HowToApply/EIGuidance.htm JES https://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk/jesHandbook/jesHelp.aspx?m=s&s=1202 NERC http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/keplans.asp

Planning research for maximum impact NOT about changing your research. Think about the potential impact of your research at the time of planning it. Consider possible pathways to impact, for example; through engagement or collaboration with partners.

Future Impact Events A series of Impact events in the new year, including events with a specific social science focus. AHRC visit to Birmingham University, 1st February 2010. Speakers: Professor Shearer West, (AHRC Director of Research); Laura Lugg, (Head of Evaluation); Katherine Barkwith, (Programme Manager of new Fellowship Programme). Contact Allison Pearson, HSSRC.

For more information and help in developing impact statements please contact the HSSRC: Faculty of Arts & Humanities Sue Hopcroft (sue.hopcroft@nottingham.ac.uk) Lisa McCabe (lisa.mccabe@nottingham.ac.uk) Faculty of Law, Education & Social Sciences Rosamund Aubrey (rosamund.aubrey@nottingham.ac.uk) Paula Gurteen (paula.gurteen@nottingham.ac.uk)