An opportunity to develop leadership skills and expand professional networks, the programme offers a wide range of tools to enhance the impact of research beyond academia. These include professional development training, workshops on publishing and funding, networking opportunities with researchers from across the UK, and a recognised professional development record through the getTWOit Skills Passport.
Last year, four researchers from Loughborough University, Dr Katie Parsons, Dr Jade French, Dr Anna Zsubori and Dr Kirsty McGregor, participated in the programme. Following their involvement, all four have been invited to return as mentors for the next cohort.
For Katie, a Research Fellow in Geography and Environment, the programme was particularly valuable because her route into academia was far from conventional. From a working-class background, she was a young carer, did not follow a traditional academic pathway after school, and spent around 30 years working with children and young people before moving into research. Since taking part, Katie has expanded her work in research leadership, policy and public engagement, including establishing the FloodScapes Research Network and engaging with organisations such as OECD, UNESCO and GO-Science. She describes the shift as moving from asking ‘Do I belong here?’ to ‘What can I contribute?’
Speaking on the experience, Katie said:
“The British Academy Elevate Programme didn’t just help me develop my research — it helped me develop as a researcher. It gave me the confidence to lead, the community to learn with, and the encouragement to step into spaces I might previously have assumed weren’t for me. Sometimes these opportunities take you somewhere unexpected; sometimes they help you realise you belonged there all along.”
Jade Elizabeth French, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Department of English, works at the interdisciplinary intersection of literary studies and ageing studies. Through the Elevate programme's championing of SHAPE disciplines, she’s been learning how to translate her research into practice via creative methods, public engagement, and policy. Since taking part, Jade has been co-developing a Creative Methods Exchange at Loughborough University with Dr Charity Aienobe-Asekharen and collaborating with two other Elevate cohort members, Katie Parsons and Kiranpreet Kaur. She is also co-organising a webinar with the National Centre for Creative Health on policy for other early career researchers to pass on learnings from the programme.
Commenting on the programme’s impact, Jade said:
“Literary studies has much to offer conversations around ageing, health, and policy but it can often be hard to articulate. The programme gave me practical ways to get creative and literary methods into spaces they might not usually reach.”
Reflecting on the experience, the group highlighted the programme’s emphasis on confidence, community and belonging, as well as the opportunity to connect with researchers from a wide range of disciplines and institutions across the UK.
Researchers interested in applying can find further information and application details on the British Academy Elevate Programme website. Applications close on 28 October 2026.