Dr Claire Shepherd

BSoc.Sc. (Hons), MSc, PhD

  • Research Associate

I joined CRSP in August 2017 and I play a central role in the core Minimum Income Standards programme of research. In addition to my work on MIS, I am a co-investigator of our research establishing retirement living standards in the UK. I have also undertaken qualitative research investigating Minimum Income Standards for people with visual impairment and have worked on the MIS in London project.

I was awarded my PhD in Social Statistics in May 2015 from the University of Manchester and my doctoral thesis comprised an investigation of gender role attitude change over time and comparison of welfare state regimes across Europe.  Prior to this I gained an MSc in Sociological Research and a First Class degree in Sociology both at the University of Manchester.  Before starting my doctoral studies, I worked for a year as a research assistant at the European Work and Employment Research Centre (EWERC) at the University of Manchester, where I contributed to a European Commission funded project exploring minimum wages and collective bargaining across Europe.  I also contributed to a European Commission Network of Excellence project investigating women’s representation across the boards of UK listed companies. 

After completing my PhD, I worked for more than two years as a researcher at the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) at the University of Derby.  While at iCeGS, I conducted a wide range of applied quantitative and qualitative research exploring themes around career education and employability.  

Recent publications

  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Blackwell, C., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2023) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2022. London: Trust for London
  • Davis, A., Stone, J., Blackwell, C., Padley, M., Shepherd, C. and Hirsch, D. (2022) A Minimum Income Standard in the UK for 2022. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Davis, A., Bryan, A., Hirsch, D., Ellen, J., Shepherd, C. and Padley, M. (2022) The cost of remoteness - reflecting higher living costs in remote rural Scotland when measuring fuel poverty Edinburgh: Scottish Government
  • Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) The Impact of Covid-19 on thinking about and planning for retirement. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
  • Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) Retirement Living Standards in the UK in 2021. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2021) A Minimum Income Standard in the UK for 2021.  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2021) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2020.  London: Trust for London
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2020) A Minimum Income Standard for the United Kingdom in 2020. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2019) Developing Retirement Living Standards. London: The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.
  • Padley, M., Davis, A., Shepherd, C. and Stone, J. (2019) A Minimum Income Standard for London 2018. London: Trust for London.
  • Davis, A., Hirsch, D., Padley, M. and Shepherd, C. (2018) A Minimum Income Standard for the UK, 2008-2018: continuity and change.  York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • Hill, K., Shepherd, C. and Hirsch, D. (2018) Experiences of Living with Visual Impairment: matching income with needs ‌Loughborough: Centre for Research in Social Policy.
  • Shepherd, C. (2017) ‘The gender and age profile of the house-building sector’, Milton Keynes: NHBC Foundation.
  • Adams, L., Tindle, A., Basran, S., Dobie, S., Thomson, D., Robinson, D. and Shepherd, C. (2017) ‘Experiences of Education, Health and Care plans. A survey of parents and young people. Research report March 2017’. London: Department for Education
  • Shepherd, C. and Hooley, T. (2016) ‘They’ve got their backs to the sea’: Careers work in Kent’s coastal schools. Derby: International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby.
  • Artess, J. and Shepherd, C. (2016). ‘H.E. Careers & Employability Services’ use of resources: Summary report’. Derby: International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby.
  • Hooley, T., Shepherd, C. and Dodd, V. (2015). ‘Get yourself connected: conceptualising the role of digital technologies in Norwegian career guidance’. Derby: International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby
  • Shepherd, C. and Elliot, M. (2015) ‘Deriving a measure of gender role attitudes using data from the European Values Study’, University of Manchester: CMIST Working Paper, October 2015.
  • Teasdale, N., Fagan, C. and Shepherd, C. (2012) ‘Women’s representation on the boards of UK listed companies’ in C. Fagan, M. Gonzales Menendez and S. Gomez Anson (Eds.) ‘Women in Management: European Employment Policy’, London: Palgrave Ltd.
  • Grimshaw, D., Shepherd, C. and Rubery, J. (2010) ‘Minimum wage systems and changing industrial relations in Europe: National UK Report’ report prepared for VS/2009/0159 (EWERC, University of Manchester) for the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.