Collaboratory Research Hub

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

The Collaboratory Research Hub warmly invites community and civic sector professionals from across the East Midlands to join us for our annual Research Showcase Event.

This event brings together the people at the heart of our programme: local residents, community partners, and researchers working side‑by‑side on projects designed with communities and for communities.

Join us to:

🔍Meet the researchers leading pioneering, community‑designed projects that address real challenges facing Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

📊Hear the latest findings from our PhD and Research Placement candidates and explore how their work can support positive change across both regions.

💬Share your insights directly with researchers and help shape the future direction of our programme’s community‑engaged research.

🤝Connect with peers who are equally committed to improving outcomes for local people.

Limited tickets are available; secure your place now.

▶️Nottingham and Nottinghamshire:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaboratory-nottinghamshire-2026-research-showcase-tickets-1989540979627

▶️Leicestershire and Rutland:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/collaboratory-leicestershire-rutland-2026-research-showcase-tickets-1989540353755

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

Join us on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm for a focused online session introducing our upcoming research project development opportunities across Nottingham, Leicestershire and Rutland.

This webinar is perfect for researchers and community‑focused organisations interested in shaping collaborative, challenge‑led proposals for the 2027 PhD and Research Placement cohorts.

We’ll outline the programme, walk through proposal requirements, and answer your questions.

Register here ▶️: 41cfdfee-871f-4eee-b143-47be6f35d619@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/41cfdfee-871f-4eee-b143-47be6f35d619@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

We’re pleased to invite researchers from our five partner universities, along with community‑focused organisations interested in developing collaborative research proposals, to join our Research Project Co‑creation Information Webinar on Wednesday 20 May 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

This session is ideal for colleagues who want to learn more about the Collaboratory Research Hub, understand what we’re looking for in proposals for the 2027 PhD and Research Placement cohorts, and explore how community‑engaged, challenge‑led research can be developed in partnership.

During the webinar, we’ll share an overview of the programme, outline the key requirements for submitting a proposal, and provide time for questions.

Please register using the link below:

8e9c015b-62bb-4542-a4d4-e6460862da9f@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8e9c015b-62bb-4542-a4d4-e6460862da9f@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

We are pleased to invite researchers based at any of our five partner universities, along with community‑focused organisations interested in developing collaborative research proposals, to join our Research Project Co‑creation Information Webinar on Thursday 14 May 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

This session is designed for colleagues who want to learn more about the Collaboratory Research Hub, understand what we are looking for in proposals for our 2027 PhD and Research Placement cohorts, and explore how community‑engaged, challenge‑led research can be developed in partnership.

The webinar will provide an overview of the programme, outline key requirements for submitting a proposal, and offer space for questions.

Please register to attend using the link below:
8ffa6230-7089-4ca1-b31f-6ae1e5e2e714@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8ffa6230-7089-4ca1-b31f-6ae1e5e2e714@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 -𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟓 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

We are pleased to invite researchers based at any of our five partner universities, along with community‑focused organisations interested in developing collaborative research proposals, to join our first Research Project Co‑creation Information Webinar on Tuesday 12 May 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

This session is designed for colleagues who want to learn more about the Collaboratory Research Hub, understand what we are looking for in proposals for our 2027 PhD and Research Placement cohorts, and explore how community‑engaged, challenge‑led research can be developed in partnership.

The webinar will provide an overview of the programme, outline key requirements for submitting a proposal, and offer space for questions.

Please register to attend using the link below:
6680c472-05d9-43bc-a2e1-c506abad9d25@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6680c472-05d9-43bc-a2e1-c506abad9d25@8acbc2c5-c8ed-42c7-8169-ba438a0dbe2f

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 -𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟓 (𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

We’re pleased to share that the Collaboratory Research Hub’s fifth and final research project co‑creation window opened today and will run until 7 September 2026. This marks the final funding round across our Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire & Rutland chapters, bringing together academic researchers and local civic and community‑focused organisations to develop proposals for our 2027 PhD and Research Placement cohorts.

We invite researchers at our partner universities, along with community‑focused leaders and organisations across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, to work together to co‑create proposals for 3‑year PhD projects and 3‑month Research Placement projects.

To support colleagues and partners, we are offering multiple dates for information webinars, where you can learn more about the programme, ask questions, and explore what we aim to achieve. We will also be hosting one co‑creation workshop in each regional chapter to help teams begin shaping their project ideas.

All proposals must address one or more of the 2026 Community Priorities for Research, published today. Priority will be given to projects that focus on community priorities not yet addressed by existing Collaboratory projects.

More details are available on our website below:
https://collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk/2027-research-project-co-creation/

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming two new Collaboratory PhD cohorts, one in Nottinghamshire and the other in Leicestershire & Rutland, at their Day 1 induction at New Art Exchange, Nottingham.

They’ll be working on projects co-designed with researchers and community-focused organisations to address the challenges that matter most to local people in the next three years.

A big congratulations to our new cohorts and their supervisory teams. We’re excited to see the impact of the work ahead. 👏 🍾

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦’𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

Nottingham’s languages, dialects and accents shape how people connect, belong and express who they are. Collaboratory PhD researcher Jack Benjamin’s latest research piece offers a brilliant look at how schools, arts organisations and grassroots groups are working to engage, safeguard and celebrate these living heritages.

From creative focus groups with young people to ethnographic work across the city, Jack talks about why language heritage matters and what communities are already doing to protect it.

Read the full article and discover how Nottingham’s voices are being championed.

▶️ https://collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk/celebrating-nottinghams-language-heritages/

Last week, we hosted our second 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞‑𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 event, bringing together colleagues from universities and local authorities across Derby‑Notts‑Leics, including Nottingham City Council and the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

We shared inspiring examples of collaborative, place‑based research, including the Urban Room initiative, the Greener Future partnership, and the new Collaboratory East Midlands Policy Research Placements.

Roundtable discussions focused on two big questions: what helps universities and civic/community organisations work well together, and what opportunities we can pursue over the next two years to create meaningful, shared impact.

It was an energising session with lots of new ideas for strengthening civic collaboration across the region.

Our next event will take place in 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, where we’ll continue showcasing community‑focused work and the conversations that matter most to our local communities.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬

We’ve now concluded our Local Voices in Research workshops across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland, where residents, community leaders, and civic partners shared their lived experiences and the issues that matter most to their communities. These conversations have given us a rich, grounded understanding of local priorities from everyday challenges to the opportunities people want to see reflected in future research.

Local Voices in Research, which includes Notts’ Voice in Research and Leicester’s Voice in Research, is a key Collaboratory initiative designed to ensure that research from our regional universities is shaped in collaboration with communities, not simply about them. Through this work, we have:

• Partnered with local residents, civic professionals, and community leaders who hold deep insight into the needs of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland

• Built a clearer picture of shared and intersecting priorities across both areas

• Identified themes that will guide the development of new research projects funded through the Collaboratory programme next year

With this phase now complete, we’re excited to move into the next stage: our 𝐂𝐨‑𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬. These sessions will bring together university researchers from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire & Rutland with community‑focused organisations to begin developing research projects directly informed by the priorities identified in our Local Voices workshops.

We look forward to continuing these collaborative sessions and supporting research that reflects and responds to what matters most to our local communities.