This online toolkit from the Future Leaders Fellows Development Network is designed to help researchers at a critical transition point: moving from being primarily “hands-on” researchers to leading and managing small (and often rapidly expanding) research groups. While most UK universities provide training on grant writing, research ethics, and PhD supervision, there is limited tailored support for the organisational challenges of growing a group.

The toolkit is aimed at PIs relatively early in their journey but contains advice that is useful and relevant to more established researchers. It offers models, reflection points and insights on:

• The identity shift: from doing research to leading researchers
• Growth by design, not default
• Vision, strategy and group narrative
• Build a minimum viable group operating approach
• Ensuring research quality as the group grows
• Recruitment and turnover
• Working with the wider institution (and professional services)
• Sustaining yourself as the group grows
• Growing well

“To grow as a leader, I had to reduce my role as a front-line researcher. The hardest part was recognising that this was not letting go of something but pivoting toward what I was best at.”

Jonathan Finch, Professor of Archaeology, University of York. Read more from Jonathan.