ESRC's large research initiatives include research centres, large grants, networks and programmes.

Our Impact Team manages ESRC's large research investments. The team's principal responsibilities include:

• supporting ESRC investments on a day-to-day basis
• monitoring the performance of investments
• helping to maximise the impact of the investment in all its forms
• promoting the work of, and links between, investments.

Support from case officers

The team includes six case officers who each manage a portfolio of ESRC-funded research investments. They are responsible for providing co-ordinated support covering areas such as finance, research, training and communications.

Your case officer will:

• identify, facilitate and encourage best practice, with a specific focus on generating research impact
• provide secretariat support for biannual investment meetings. These are held between the case officer, investment director, and a representative of one of ESRC's committees
• support the development of Key Performance Indicators and monitor their ongoing performance
• assess investments' Annual Reports in conjunction with the designated ESRC committee member and ensure any outstanding issues are addressed
• plan and manage reviews of investments as required
• compile information for briefings and corporate publications
• respond to enquiries and consultations, for example from government departments, parliamentary committees and funding councils
• liaise between co-funders and research investments as appropriate
• relay key strategic messages from ESRC Council to investment directors.

For any queries, email esrcimpactteam@esrc.ac.uk or contact your case officer.

Our Evaluation Committee oversees the evaluation of ESRC's centres, groups, large grants, networks and programmes. We usually appoint consultants to review the achievements and impacts of these initiatives through tender competitions.

For centres, groups, networks and large grants, the consultants invite a number of referees to comment on final reports and supporting material.

For programmes, the consultant considers project-level evaluations, which have already been subject to peer review.

For all initiatives, consultants also consider:

• the co-ordinator's/director's/large grant award holder's final report
• questionnaire results (from both grant holders and research users)
• interviews with key stakeholders (eg directors, principal investigators, chairs of advisory bodies, non-academic users)

As well as providing an evaluation of the accomplishments of the investment, consultants will also include a set of recommendations regarding, for example, future research priorities and funding mechanisms.

Final reports

Our centres, groups, programmes and networks must submit a final report to their case officer three months after the end of the grant.

• Centre/Group Director's Final Report Guidelines (PDF, 171Kb)
• Network Co-ordinator's Final Report Guidelines (PDF, 185Kb)
• Programme or Initiative Director's Final Report Guidelines (PDF, 149Kb)
• Large Grants Final Report Guidelines (PDF, 174Kb)
  
• Director's Fellowship Final Report Guidelines (PDF, 93Kb)

For further information, please contact your case officer.