Resources to help researches achieve impact from their work are being released and updated all the time. Below is a searchable list of resources available to SHU researchers and research administrators to help you find what you’re looking for. All support listed here has been vetted in some way (approved by the impact team at SHU, recommended by colleagues, etc.) If you have come across a good resource, please let us know and we will add it to the list.
If you’re looking for help with a more specific area of impact, use the search box (below right) to find the relevant support.
| Resource | Short description | Deliverer | Method of delivery (and date added) | Who for? | More information | Link to resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing for a Parliamentary Audience | Three-page guide on how to write for a parliamentary audience, including useful tips on content and structure. | UK Parliament's Knowledge Exchange Teams | PDF guide (February 2022) | All researchers wishing to engagement with UK and devolved Parliaments. | Three-page guide on how to write for a parliamentary audience, including useful tips on content and structure. The Knowledge Exchange Unit supports Parliament to communicate its research and expertise needs to the research community, and supports the research community to engage with Parliament. | writing-for-a-parliamentary-audience-eng |
| Engaging with UK Government Areas of Research Interest: learning and insights from the Universities Policy Engagement Network | UPEN report - This report provides an overview of UPEN members' experiences of working with government departments on their Areas of Research Interest (ARI). | upen.ac.uk | PDF report (January 2022) | All researchers interested in increasing the impact of research on public policy, particularly working with government on their Areas of Interest (ARI). | The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) is a community of UK universities, academics, and policy professionals committed to increasing the impact of research on public policy at a local, regional, national, and international level. | UPEN_ARI_Report |
| Opening Up Parliament: Barriers to Engagement and Participatory Potential - What Academics Think | UPEN report - Opening Up Parliament: Barriers to Engagement and Participatory Potential - What Academics Think This report, based on a survey of 790 UK academics provides an insight into their experiences of engaging with UK Parliament. | upen.ac.uk | PDF report (July 2021) | All researchers interested in increasing the impact of research on public policy, particularly around barriers academics experience engaging with UK Parliament. | The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) is a community of UK universities, academics, and policy professionals committed to increasing the impact of research on public policy at a local, regional, national, and international level. | UPEN Opening Up Parliament report |
| Surfacing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within Academic-Policy Engagement | UPEN report on the current state of play of equity, diversity & inclusion in academic policy engagement. | upen.ac.uk | PDF report (December 2021) | All researchers interested in increasing the impact of research on public policy, particularly around topics related to equality, diversity & inclusion. | The Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) is a community of UK universities, academics, and policy professionals committed to increasing the impact of research on public policy at a local, regional, national, and international level. | Surfacing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within Academic‑Policy Engagement |
| Introduction to Altmetric Explorer | An overview of what Altmetrics are and how to use the Altmetric Explorer tool to help track impact. | Altmetric.com | PDF presentation (October 2021) | All researchers wanting to learn more about different ways to track impact. | For advice on how Altmetrics can help track impact visit the Library Research Support Team's web pages Library Research Support | An introduction to Altmetric |
| REF2021 Impact Case Study database | A searchable database of every impact case study submitted to REF2021 | REF2021 | Online (webpages) (2022) | Those who are likely to submit an impact case study to the next REF. | For advice on how to use the database, see Impact for the REF | Link to REF2014 ICS database |
| REF2014 Impact Case Study database | A searchable database of every impact case study submitted to REF2014 | REF2014 | Online (webpages) (2015) | Those who are likely to submit an impact case study to the next REF. | For advice on how to use the database, see Impact for the REF | Link to REF2014 ICS database |
| SHU's REF2021 impact case studies | A list of each of the impact case studies SHU submitted to REF2021 | Sheffield Hallam University | Online (webpages) (May 2022) | Useful to all SHU researchers | Link to SHU webpages | |
| Enhancing Research Impact (Epigeum) | A comprehensive overview of research impact, providing practical support and guidance. | Epigeum | Online training course (via Blackboard) | 'Academics looking to demonstrate the impact of their research beyond academia'. A good overview for all staff working in research. | Information, guidance, toolkits, all designed for the researcher. | Link to more information |
| Fast Track Impact: Training by researchers for researchers | A wealth of information and resources for research impact. | Fast Track Impact (company) led by Professor Mark Reed (Newcastle University) | Online resources and training (website, updated regularly) | All researchers. | Prof Reed is highly regarded within research impact and provides many useful resources for free. | Fast Track Impact website |
| LSE Impact blog | Blog articles on research impact (wide authorship, not just LSE) | London School of Economics and Political Science | Online (blog, updated regularly), subscribe for email alerts | In general, those who want to keep up to date with current thinking on impact. But some good articles giving practical advice on specific topics too. | Not all articles will be of relevance / interest to all. Use the search facility to look for articles on specific topics, e.g. impact evidence | Link to LSE Impact Blog |
| Knowledge Exchange for researchers at the Welsh Parliament | "Everything you need to know to engage with the Welsh Parliament as a researcher" | Welsh Parliament | Online (webpage, updated regularly) | Those wanting to work with Welsh Parliament to influence policy, including submitting evidence to committees | Advice on how to engage with Welsh Parliament and devolved legislatures, including a collection of training and guidance materials | Link to the Welsh Parliament Knowledge Exchange webpages |
| Research Impact at the UK Parliament | "Everything you need to know to engage with Parliament as a researcher" | UK Parliament | Online (webpage, updated regularly) | Those wanting to work with UK Parliament to influence policy, including submitting evidence to committees | Advice on how to engage with Parliament, examples of researchers who have done so, etc. | Link to UK Parliament website |
| NCCPE How to... evaluate public engagement projects and programmes | Guidance on how to evaluate engagement with your research | National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) | PDF (April 2018) | Those who are looking to evaluate their engagement (and the resulting impact) | The NCCPE's definition of public engagement may be broader than you expect - this guide is useful for evaluating any engagement with your research | NCCPE guide to evaluating public engagement |
| Examples of impacts and indicators | A list of impact areas and types, and what indicators you might use to evidence reach and significance. | Research England (REF2021 team) | PDF (October 2018) | Any researcher looking for examples of impact and how to evidence benefit. | This table appeared in the REF2021 guidance as 'Annex A'. It is a very useful document to help frame impact, or to prompt thinking about different types of impact and how they might relate to research. | Impact and indicators examples table (annex A) |
| SHU Twitter toolkit | Twitter basics... and beyond: tools to tweet effectively | SHU communications team | PDF (March 2018) | Those who want to understand the various functions available on Twitter | This explores Twitter's functionality - for guidance on how to use Twitter as a research tool, search for 'Online Impact' in the search box above | SHU Twitter toolkit |
| National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement | Plenty of useful information and guides about engaging with various 'publics' | National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) | Online (webpages, updated regularly) | Useful to all researchers - engagement is a key pathway to impact | The NCCPE's definition of public engagement may be broader than you expect - the information here is useful for evaluating any engagement with your research | Link to NCCPE website |
| 4* REF impact case studies | A list of each of the 4* REF2014 impact case studies, by unit of assessment | Stephen Kemp, Impact Consultant | Online (webpages) (March 2018) | Those who are likely to submit an impact case study to the next REF. | Link to Stephen Kemp's blog | |
| UK Parliament - Get involved | Advice on how to influence policy makers in the UK Parliament | UK Parliament | List of current training events, including access to recordings of previous online training events. (updated regularly) | Those wanting to work with UK Parliament to influence policy, including submitting evidence to committees | Training events are run specifically for academic researchers | Link to UK Parliament website |
| REF2021 Guidance for impact case studies (SHU doc) | The impact sections of the Research England guidance for REF2021 compiled into one document | Research England (compiled by SHU Research Impact) | PDF (August 2019) | Impact case study authors for REF2021 | The full Research England REF2021 guidance documents are available on the Impact for the REF page. | REF2021 guidance documents for impact case studies |
| Guidance on testimonials and statements to corroborate impact | Practical guidance on what testimonials should say and how to ask for them | Stephen Kemp, Impact Consultant | Online (webpage) (May 2018) | Those who are likely to submit an impact case study to the next REF. | This was written before the REF2021 draft guidance was released. Other guidance available from Fast Track Impact (use search facility, above right) | Link to Stephen Kemp's blog |
| What makes a 4* impact case study for REF2021? | Lessons learned from reviewing REF2014 ICSs, and developing ICSs for 2021 | Fast Track Impact | Online (webpage) | All academics looking to submit an impact case study to REF2021 | A useful summary of what to bear in mind when preparing and writing an ICS for REF2021. [Please ignore information about continued case studies - this was written before the REF2021 guidance was issued.] | Fast Track Impact website |
| Write an impact case study (Epigeum sub-section) | Advice and guidance on how to write an impact case study (based on REF2014 template) | Epigeum | Online training sub-section (via Blackboard) | Those with well-developed impact who are ready to write a case study | Course 4, Module 1, Write an impact case study sub-section | Link to more information |
| Evidencing impact: Capturing change (Epigeum module) | Useful exercises and activities to understand how to evidence impact | Epigeum | Online training module (via Blackboard) | Useful to all! Evidencing impact is key, otherwise how can you prove it? | Course 2, Module 3, 'Evidencing impact: Capturing change.' This is a useful introduction to evidencing impact. For an evaluation tool, see NCCPE's 'How to... evaluate public engagement projects and programmes' | Link to more information |
| Types of stakeholder (Epigeum sub-section) | Useful exercises and activities to understand different types of stakeholders | Epigeum | Online training sub-section (via Blackboard) | Those wanting to understand more about stakeholders | Course 2, Module 1, 'Types of stakeholder' sub-section. | Link to more information |
| Setting your impact goals (Epigeum course activity) | A short activity which helps identify potential impact for a research project | Epigeum | Online training activity (via Blackboard) | Researchers wanting help in clarifying their impact goals | Course 2, Module 1, 'Setting your impact goals' sub-section | Link to more information |
| Funding for impact (Epigeum module) | Useful exercises and activities to help plan a pathway to impact statement for a grant submission | Epigeum | Online training module (via Blackboard) | Researchers writing a grant submission which requires a pathway to impact statement | Course 2, Module 2, 'Funding for impact' | Link to more information |
| Pathways to Impact (Fast Track Impact) | A guide to writing a pathway to impact, plus a database of best practice examples | Fast Track Impact | Online (webpage) | Researchers writing grant proposals | Fast Track Impact - Pathways to impact | |
| Online Impact (Fast Track Impact Newsletter spring/summer 2017) | A practical guide to online impact. | Fast Track Impact | Online (webpage) | Useful to all - novice and more experienced alike. | Provides an impact context to using social media and other online platforms, acknowledging the pitfalls as well as the benefits of an online presence. | Fast Track Impact Newsletter (spring/summer 2017) Online Impact |
| Collecting research impact evidence: Best practice guidance for the research community | Guidance on the collection, management and use of sources of impact evidence. | Vertigo Ventures and Digital Science, commissioned by HEFCE | Those who are collecting evidence for REF impact case studies, or other impact evaluation. | Published June 2016. Best practice guidance section starts at p.18. | Collecting Research Impact Evidence (VV) | |
| Evidence for Success: The guide to getting evidence and using it | A guide to influencing policy and decision-makers. | Knowledge Translation Network (KTN), Scotland | Anyone wanting to influence policy or decision-makers. | This guide is written for the third sector (in Scotland), but is a useful resource for researchers. | KTN Influencing policy - evidence for success | |
| 2 year plan template (SHU) | A template to help prioritise actions in run up to REF2021 submission | SHU Research Impact | Word document (template) | Impact case study authors for REF2021, any researcher looking to develop an impact case study | Use with Impact assessment template (to identify gaps) | SHU Research Impact - 2 year plan |
| Impact assessment template (SHU) | A template to help assess current state of impact case study and identify gaps | SHU Research Impact | Word document (template) | Impact case study authors for REF2021, any researcher looking to develop an impact case study | Use with 2 year plan template (to list actions in the run up to REF2021 submission) | SHU Research Impact - assessment template |
| REF ICS Structure and Content Guidance (SHU blue doc) | An exercise to explore different areas/types of impact and determine case study structure. | SHU Research Impact | Word document (template) | Impact case study authors for REF2021 | This exercise will help ICS authors to check that they have thought about all possible areas of impact to use in their case studies, and help develop a structure for the Details of the Impact (B4 section) of the REF2021 ICS template. | ICS Structure and Content Guidance |
| REF ICS Drafting Guidance (SHU red doc) | An annotated version of the REF2021 ICS template. | SHU Research Impact | Impact case study authors for REF2021 | This document clarifies what information goes where in the REF2021 ICS template. | ICS Drafting Guidance |