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Engaging with the business sector

Global handshake

The ESRC Business Engagement Strategy sets out our approach, outlining a number of mechanisms which will help increase our engagement with the business community.

working for business

Team Work

The ESRC works with the government, third sector and business sectors to harness business opportunities and deliver academic, economic and social impact from our investments as soon as possible, in particular in the areas of business models, innovation and skills. The Knowledge Transfer Team provides a brokering role to encourage collaboration between academics and businesses interested in high quality social science research.

About ESRC

Cover of Annual Report 2008-2009

ESRC funds research and training in social and economic issues. Our planned expenditure for 2009/10 is £204 million, which funds over 2,500 researchers in academic institutions and policy research institutes throughout the UK. We also support more than 2,000 postgraduate students.

Business Insights

Luminous Crystal Ball

The ESRC is committed to developing the impact of social science research on the performance of UK business. Particular attention is being given to the generic themes of innovation, business models and skills.

Understanding Society

Understanding Society will track the lives of 100,000 people in Britain every year, capturing crucial information on their health, finances, employment, education and more. It will track how people respond to policy initiatives and inform future policy - for example how many quality years people will have post retirement and what the need for state care will be.