We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2024 LARIA Research Impact Awards. The winners will be announced at the LARIA Conference on Tuesday 26 November, taking place at the Local Government Association in London.

These awards aim to showcase the impact research and data analysis can make at a local level, for example, in understanding the needs of local residents and businesses, or testing innovative activity, or informing local decision-making.

A: Best use of local area research – sponsored by LGA

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a local area or community or an issue that is locally important, and has led to evidence-based decision-making.

B: Best use of data – sponsored by CACI

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully used data to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue that has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Data for the purposes of this award is defined as the use of big data, open data, business intelligence and statistical analysis.

Shortlisted

• Essex County Council Data and Analytics Team: Targeted foster carer recruitment
• Improvement Service and West Lothian Council: Harnessing Council Data to Understand Unmet Need in West Lothian Council
• Luton Borough Council: Understanding poverty in Luton through the Minimum Income Standard (MIS)
• Manchester City Council: Using Local Data to Create a Community Infrastructure Mapping Tool to Identify Factors Affecting Future GP Estate Planning in North Manchester

C: Best use of data or research in a district council

No Entries

D: Most engaging communication of local area research or analysis

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully communicated local area research or data analysis to aid understanding of a local area, community or issue. The audience for this communication could include senior decision-makers, staff, the media and the public.

Shortlisted

• Essex County Council Data and Analytics Team: Tackling the Digital Divide: The Digital Exclusion Risk Mapping Tool
• GeoPlace: Address data usage reports or “Unlocking the power of address data: A data-driven infographic report for benchmarking and transformation”
• Manchester City Council Performance, Research & Intelligence Team: Homecare Deep Dive Analysis
• Manchester City Council: The State of the City Report – Manchester City Council

E: New researcher/analyst of the year

This award is given to a researcher or analyst with under five years of experience in a research field who has made an impact. This could be a person of any age, and could be based on a particular project they have led, an innovation they have pioneered or a particularly strong skill set.

Shortlisted

• Abigail Yeates, Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council
• Connie Becker, Essex County Council
• Nelly Jones, Shared Intelligence
• Zoe Read, Manchester City Council