Adrian Ashton

Leading on the analysis of responses received from voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise groups across 9 broughs and 2 sub-regions.

This was the first instance of all local CVS infrastructure bodies collaborating on such a shared approach to mapping, and understanding changing trends in their sector.

The outcome report has generated new opportunities for greater partnership and influence by these bodies, to advocate more strongly on behalf of the sector.

A research report for the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, part of the Department for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment in Ireland - forecasting the additional jobs and skills needed in the Biopharma sector in Ireland by 2027, to inform planning by public sector, and educational bodies, and sector firms.
Using a comprehensive research methodology the report is being used to inform planning amongst public policy makers, providers of education, and employers in the sector.

An initial exploration and identification of the impacts and social value being created by an on-line social prescribing brokerage service, as part of the inaugural evaluation of it.

Commissioned by SELnet to draft a new resource to support social entrepreneurs better appreciate the range and implications of different legal forms they can adopt for their ventures; and for existing social enterprises to better periodically review their adopted legal form to ensure it remains 'fit for purpose' in light of changes to trading, markets, and communities.

What started as a novel approach to working out an idea saw me accidentally write a book.

After looking at various research, and through a historical and socio-cultural perspective, it transpires that much as what we know about Imposter Syndrome, and 'accepted wisdom' about about it, is actually very misleading.

Keen to share this exploration for the benefit of others, and also to attempt to encourage wider debate and reflection on what I think I've uncovered and how I'm now… Show more

What started as a novel approach to working out an idea saw me accidentally write a book.

After looking at various research, and through a historical and socio-cultural perspective, it transpires that much as what we know about Imposter Syndrome, and 'accepted wisdom' about about it, is actually very misleading.

Keen to share this exploration for the benefit of others, and also to attempt to encourage wider debate and reflection on what I think I've uncovered and how I'm now arguing it, I've self-published a pocket book, priced at the cost of a coffee/beer, to allow it to be easily accessible. Show less

A literature review on behalf of social investors the Key Fund and Barrow Cadbury Trust, into the realities of how rural social enterprises may need to have social investment products redesigned in order for them to be able to best engage with this model of finance.

3xE was a national programme supporting organisations in the homeless sector create social enterprises further help people affected by homelessness to access work and skills.
I was commissioned to draft this guide for how resistance amongst Trustees in charities and similar to developing (social) enterprise activities might be approached, so that opportunities to create new and more ways to impact communities and people might not be otherwise lost.

The aims of this research exercise were to provide Community Catalysts with a scoping of the
dynamics of micro-providers in the supply chain of health and social care services, within the context
of direct payments and the personalisation agenda in England.

3xE was a national programme supporting organisations in the homeless sector create social enterprises further help people affected by homelessness to access work and skills.
As part of it, I was commissioned to develop a new model of business incubator that could better enable homeless entrepreneurs to be supported in developing their own enterprises as a route to employment.

As part of a wider consideration for how to best support the future entrepreneurs of Burnley, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds, I was commissioned to undertake research into identifying the future support needs of different groups of start-up businesses, and modelling workspaces that could best allow them to flourish for the benefit of the wider community.

I researched the history, impact, and learnings for other social investors, of one of the earliest social investment funds that was based on a peer model of lending.

As part of supporting and raising the profile of co-operative and social enterprises, I designed, managed, and evaluated a local trade fair to showcase the sector in Cambridge - this guide captures the outcomes and learning from this event.