Strengthening the pathway from research to impact

Creating a compelling research impact case study requires more than simply demonstrating that change happened. It requires a clear and credible account of how research contributed to that change, what the pathway involves, why the change matters, and what evidence supports the pathway from research to impact.

The PolicyScribe REF Impact Accelerator™ is a structured approach to developing and strengthening research impact for REF 2029.

The REF Impact Accelerator was developed by Dr Eve Hepburn, drawing on her extensive experience in academia, research, evaluation, contribution analysis and policy impact. The Accelerator helps researchers critically examine their pathways to impact, strengthen their evidence and develop credible, compelling accounts of research contribution.

From research to meaningful impact

Research impact is rarely linear. Research travels through relationships, networks, engagement, collaboration, translation and wider systems before contributing to change.

The REF Impact Accelerator™ helps researchers make sense of this complexity: identifying how research has contributed to change, where the strongest evidence lies, and where further work could strengthen an emerging impact case.

Rather than simply polishing the final narrative, the approach works backwards from impact and forwards towards future evidence, helping researchers and institutions develop stronger impact cases over time.

Supporting REF 2029

The Accelerator can support universities at different stages of REF preparation, from identifying and developing promising impact cases to strengthening mature cases and preparing the evidence required to substantiate them.

Support can include:

• individual and team impact coaching
• impact case study development and review
• impact pathway and contribution analysis
• significance and reach analysis
• evidence and corroboration reviews
• impact monitoring and evaluation
• workshops and training for researchers
• strategic support for institutional impact development

Building impact and evidence towards 2029

Many potential REF 2029 impact stories are still developing.

PolicyScribe can work with researchers and institutions prospectively, helping identify opportunities to strengthen impact, address evidence gaps and establish practical approaches to monitoring emerging change through the remainder of the REF period.

This means the Accelerator is not simply about writing better impact case studies. It is about helping universities develop stronger impact and build the evidence needed to demonstrate it.

Find out more

The REF Impact Accelerator™ can be tailored to individual researchers, research groups, Schools or whole institutions.

Contact PolicyScribe to discuss REF 2029 impact support for your university.

REF Impact Accelerator™ is a PolicyScribe methodology developed by Dr Eve Hepburn.