Here are the suggestions new researchers attending the April 2026 online session on career next steps came up with.
Jobs
- Charity Evaluation Working Group (ChEW) https://www.chewgroup.org.uk/ and their (member only) LinkedIn page
- Ben Proctor’s weekly email of nonprofit data jobs. Subscribe at: https://buttondown.com/likeaword
- Whiton Maynard recruitment agency specialising in research/policy jobs https://www.whitonmaynard.com/
- Jobs.ac.uk (you can also sign up to alerts).
- Charity Job https://www.charityjob.co.uk/
- Guardian jobs https://jobs.theguardian.com/
- Times Education Supplement https://www.tes.com/jobs
- Good Moves (Scotland only) https://goodmoves.org/
- (Local) infrastructure organisations (CVS/Voluntary Action, etc locally or NCVO, etc nationally) often share jobs &/or have consultancy lists
- Discussion lists/LinkedIn
- Cold email to network/research groups
Funding
NB: Some of these are university-led nominations, so you may need to be attached to a university before you can apply.
- UKRI funding finder https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/
- ESRC postdoctoral fellowship https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/esrc-postdoctoral-fellowships/
- Research England https://www.ukri.org/councils/research-england/our-funds-for-research-and-knowledge-exchange/
- British Academy https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/schemes/postdoctoral-fellowships/
- Nuffield Foundation https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/funding-for-research/main-grants or https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/funding-for-research/post-fellowship
- Leverhulme https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career-fellowships
- Wellcome Trust https://wellcome.org/research-funding/guidance/prepare-to-apply/early-career-research
- NIHR career awards (For those in the health/social care space) https://www.nihr.ac.uk/career-development/research-career-funding-programmes/postdoctoral/postdoctoral-award
Skills/advice
- British Academy Early Career Research Network https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/early-career-researcher-network/
- Writing academic CVs e.g.: https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cvs#collapse1542151 but many other universities provide this kind of advice
- University careers service (even if you’re not currently studying, some offer ongoing support to their alumni)
Other
- Develop your contacts and actively maintain them
- Attend conferences if you can
- Get lots of advice about funder before applying!
- Networking in your area of interest, demonstrate skills & professionalism and your name may get mentioned.
- Post on LinkedIn
