Funding available: focus groups for PGRs and ECRs

Posted: 21 May 2025

Developing Business-Aware Academics project

Applications are now open for funding of up to £2.5k (VAT inclusive) from the Developing Business-Aware Academics project, to run focus groups exploring the barriers, motivators, and enablers to engaging beyond academia for doctoral and early-career researchers. Applications close on 30th May and are open to academics, researcher developers and professional services teams supporting doctoral and early-career researchers at any HE institution in England eligible to receive Research England funding.

On Friday 16th May, they ran an online webinar to give more information about this funding call. This webinar introduced the project and the intended aims of the focus groups, as well as the logistics of running a focus group (including ethical considerations) and the application and selection process. The project team also answered questions about the funding call during the Q&A session. You can watch the recording on our YouTube channel here.

For more information, and to read the full terms of the funding, please see the dedicated web page.

Please note that this funding opportunity is open to applications from university staff (whether academics, researcher developers, or PS staff), rather than for PGRs themselves. The funding is to run focus groups which will gather insights from PGRs and ECRs.