Our research projects

INTERACT, Made Smarter Network +

Professor Vania Sena leads the team of CREED researchers working on the implication of digitalization on the future of the economy.

Determination of customer water price ceilings in England and Wales for 2020-25 and 2025-30

Professor Anthony Glass is working on water supply, retail services and sewerage services cost models for water companies, whilst industry regulator Ofwat develops its own cost models. After consultation with companies, Ofwat settles on the models to use to set caps on the prices companies can charge.

Attracting and sustaining the screen industry workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber

Professor Don Webber is exploring what attracts and sustains the screen industry workforce in Yorkshire and the Humber.

European philanthropy and the business of giving

Entrepreneurs have an established history of creating philanthropic organisations to shape wider economic and social activities. Dr Chay Brooks' research project uses extensive archival sources to explore the work of European entrepreneurs and philanthropic foundations in order to explore their strategies and impact on global society.

The ecosystem for impact entrepreneurship in Kampala, Uganda

This project will focus on the ecosystem for impact entrepreneurship in Kampala, Uganda. It will include collaboration with international partners, network and relationship building activities, and preliminary research. This research will have the following objectives:

• To map the ecosystem for impact entrepreneurship in Kampala
• To examine interactions between impact entrepreneurs and this ecosystem
• To identify ways to enhance relationships between impact entrepreneurs and their ecosystem

Staff involved: Dr David Littlewood

Next Generation Services

This is an ESRC funded project exploring the role of new technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning in the professional services. This project focused in particular on the legal and accounting services which account for a significant proportion of professional services activity in the United Kingdom. The project involved a consortium of universities including the University of Sheffield, University of the Arts London, Lancaster University and the University of Manchester, alongside practitioner bodies including the Managing Partners Forum. The Next Generation Services advisory board contained industry and academic representatives to facilitate direct knowledge exchange at a senior level within the participating organisations and within those divisions tasked with innovation.

Staff involved: Dr Chay Brooks

Scoping the value, reach and potential of social enterprises in the Sheffield City Region

Working with Sheffield Social Enterprise Network (SSEN), this project will analyse the state of the social enterprise sector in the Sheffield City Region. It will scope the value, reach and potential of social enterprises in the City Region, assess and highlight their impact, and provide best practice insights for struggling social enterprises. This project will entail work with SSEN to analyse existing quantitative data, as well as new qualitative data collection - interviews and focus groups. This will be used to showcase the impact of social enterprises and to build a strong narrative around their value, role and potential, assisting SSEN in its engagements with regional policymakers and wider stakeholders.

Staff involved: Dr Jon Burchell | Dr David Littlewood

Unlocking productivity in the SCR through changes to the transport network

Productivity (output per worker) in the SYCMA is characterised by large geographical variations among its constituent local authorities. According to the SCR Strategic Economic Plan, these differentials can be reduced by new inter/intra city transport schemes connecting future jobs to where individuals live. In practice, unlocking these productivity gains requires re-thinking the existing transport network in the SCR so that physical and economic connectivity is maximised. Additionally, ongoing Covid-19 restrictions have changed the geography of work. In light of these changes, the existing transport network (traditionally based around the principle of a 'hub and spoke' network) may be inadequate.

Professor Sena (SUMS), Dr Punzo (ACSE) and Dr Harabi (CSE) are working with the SYPTE to develop a decision-support tool allowing them to benchmark cities and their transport infrastructure against their optimal geographic arrangement and productivity potential. The tool will be used to identify the potential new routes across all transport modes which could maximise connectivity and regional productivity.

Staff involved: Professor Vania Sena

Is the REF worth it?

Professor Don Webber is exploring the value of REF participation, which poses the risk of discouraging and demoralising researchers. The research seeks to understand what makes a research culture which enables researchers.

Staff involved: Professor Don Webber