Personal profile
Biography
Jonathan joined Norwich Business School in October 2024 to undertake a PhD in Management. His research is on “Understanding the use of evidence in Civil Service policy making”, in which he is examining how evidence is acquired and used, the different actors and institutions that are involved, and the factors that influence them. The project is collaborative with the Evaluation Task Force, a joint unit of the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, and is funded by ESRC as part of the South and East Network for Social Sciences.
Jonathan’s PhD topic links with his previous 20+ years’ work experience as an economic development and public policy consultant. During this time, he undertook research and evaluation projects for public sector clients including central government departments in the UK, national agencies and development banks, local authorities, regional development agencies and the European Commission. He has directed or managed over 100 research-based consultancy projects, provided training and capability development for government organisations, and co-authored guidance on undertaking policy and programme evaluation. Drawing on his evaluation expertise, Jonathan has been a volunteer advisor on the Evaluation Task Force’s Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel since March 2023.
He has experience across a range of public policy areas. These include technology and innovation, industrial policy, business support, entrepreneurship, access to finance for small and early-stage businesses, regional and local economic development, and skills and labour markets.
Jonathan was a co-investigator on the ESRC-funded Productivity Insights Network, which was led by the University of Sheffield and aimed to rethink the productivity issues facing the UK through a place-based lens. For this, he co-led the workstream on cross-thematic analysis and co-authored two book chapters.
As well as his research and consultancy experience, Jonathan has over 10 years’ experience in management and leadership positions in a consultancy business, SQW.
Key Research Interests
Institutions and organisational behaviour
Evidence-based policy; and policy and programme evaluation
Public policy, with particular interests in: industrial policy; science, technology and innovation; business support and enterprise policy; and local and regional economic development
Education/Academic qualification
MA (Oxon) Economics and Management, University of Oxford
External positions
Advisor to Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel, Evaluation Task Force (Cabinet Office)
1 Mar 2023 → …