Rapid-deployment Policy Toolkits designed to secure your Impact Case Studies before the July funding deadline.
As the July deadline for the 2025/2026 academic year rapidly approaches, many universities are assessing their remaining UKRI Policy Support Fund (PSF) allocations. All as the pressure to build robust pipelines for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 is intensifying.
With the Engagement and Impact (E&I) element retaining a critical 25% weighting for REF 2029, institutions must definitively prove that their research has made a “distinct and material contribution” to societal or policy outcomes.
At Showrunner Communications, we offer a streamlined solution to solve both challenges at once: The E&I Accelerator Policy Toolkit.
What is the E&I Accelerator Policy Toolkit?
A rapid-turnaround deliverable, our Policy Toolkits provide individual researchers or specific academic departments with an actionable, highly targeted roadmap for policy engagement across Westminster and Whitehall and local and regional government as well as sector-specific advocacy groups and public bodies.
Each bespoke toolkit includes:
- Live Policy Horizon Scanning: Up-to-date analysis of upcoming legislation and key debates relevant to specific research interests.
- Targeted Stakeholder Mapping: Precise identification of the primary ‘movers and shakers’ in the relevant policy area, including Select Committee members, civil servants, and APPG chairs.
- Actionable Engagement Strategies: Step-by-step guidance on how to translate complex academic findings into digestible, high-impact policy narratives and routes to engage directly with key policymakers.
Fully Compliant with UKRI PSF Guidelines
Our toolkits and associated 1-to-1 coaching are specifically designed to align with Research England’s permissible uses for formula-based funding.
The PSF explicitly supports “activity and training to better equip academics to communicate effectively with policymakers” and initiatives aimed at “facilitating the use of existing research and the exchange of knowledge between universities and policymakers”. By working with Showrunner Communications, you can confidently deploy your ring-fenced grant allocations to build lasting institutional capacity without depleting your core departmental budgets.
Act Before the July Deadline
Don’t let your remaining 2025/2026 PSF allocations go unspent. We have the capacity to deploy, deliver, and invoice bespoke Policy Toolkits before the financial year closes.
Get in touch with our Managing Director Mark Fuller on [email protected] to book a complimentary 45-minute REF 2029 Policy Impact Gap Analysis with our team today. We will review your current research portfolio and discuss how our rapid-deployment toolkits can bridge the gap between your academic expertise and live legislative debates.