Josh Jackson
Location: Edinburgh
Qualifications: MA (Hons) English Literature and History (University of Edinburgh)
I started at SQW in August 2023 having just graduated from the University of Edinburgh in English Literature and History. During my studies I completed an internship at an education consultancy, where I was introduced to evaluation and consultancy. I enjoyed the opportunity to work on research projects that answered questions with direct real-world impact. Following this, I saw the diverse range of projects and clients SQW works with, alongside the varied research methods used, as an opportunity to expand my research skills.
Since joining SQW, I have had the chance to work on lots of interesting projects and learn about a range of sectors and policy areas. I’ve continued working on education and skills projects, such as an evaluation of the ongoing Apprenticeship Workforce Development Programme for the Education and Training Foundation, while also being introduced to new topics. Key examples to date include exploring how public money can support companies developing emerging technologies, audits for the precision medicine and industrial biotechnology sectors, and researching how universities in the North East can collaborate on regional economic development goals.
The diversity of tasks has been a real highlight, I’ve worked on survey design, literature reviews and written sections of reports. I’ve also had great opportunities for fieldwork - I have visited the research and development site of an agricultural technology company in Stirling to discuss the impacts of a UKRI grant, and have also met with university vice-chancellors in the North East to investigate how they could collaborate to meet regional development goals.
The Research Consultant training programme has meant that I’ve never felt unprepared for any of these tasks. I’ve received support on using new software, such as MaxQDA, interview techniques for qualitative research, as well as sessions on evaluation methods and research approaches. Outside of the training programme, there are always opportunities to further your skills and knowledge, with regular knowledge sharing sessions across the company. Working at SQW has been a great opportunity to develop my skills as both a researcher and a consultant in a supportive and engaging environment.
