Who are Policymakers?

A policymaker is any stakeholder, elected or unelected official, decision maker or influencer who create or impact policy development and implementation. They may work:

Locally - including local councils, devolved administrations, and mayors.

Regionally – including elected and unelected officials and civil servants in the devolved administrations (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Nationally - policymakers can be in government or parliament, such as Secretaries of State, Ministers, advisors, Members of Parliament, Peers and civil servants. It also involves experts in government agencies and non-ministerial departments, executive agencies, and non-departmental public bodies. Outside of government, think tanks and policy groups also impact the policy development process.

Internationally – such as the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and World Bank.

Getting started

Lancaster University can help researchers from across all faculties engage with policymakers. Any academic of any discipline and at all career levels is encouraged to get involved.

If you want to engage with policymakers but need help to get started in the first instance contact Janine Bickerstaff, Research Policy Impact Manager, email: policy@lancaster.ac.uk.

Ways to connect with policymakers

There are many ways to engage the government and parliament with your research. This can include:

• Sharing your research as evidence at relevant House of Commons and House of Lords committees.
• Responding to calls for expert views in government consultations.
• Participating in parliamentary events to present research.
• Writing briefings for the Houses of Parliament libraries.
• Developing policy solutions with UK Government Departments and agencies.
• Partnering with groups that help influence local or national policy e.g. think tanks, NGOs, lobby groups.
• Working with an All-Party Parliamentary Group.

What support is available?

• Connecting you with the opportunity to influence policy.
• Connecting you with other academics who are already active to offer peer support /mentoring.
• Signposting you to other avenues of support such as the Press office, Public Affairs team, Open Innovation Partnership, Industry and Parliament Trust and Lancaster Insights Hub
• Policy Round Up – a weekly newsletter summarising current opportunities for engaging with parliament and government and upcoming training opportunities.
• Training sessions for academics and knowledge exchange professional staff.
• Helping you to write for a policy audience.

To access this support and receive the Policy Round Up newsletter email: policy@lancaster.ac.uk