Needs analysis and recommendations for a sustainable White Rose Partnership approach to professional development

Page contents

Background
Apply
Project objectives
Project remit
Final outputs
Approach
Reporting
Timescale
Format and submission of proposals
Evaluation of proposals
Terms and conditions
Enquiries

Background

Research Professionals play a critical role in enabling excellent research. Working across research development, funding, contracts, governance, finance, research culture, knowledge exchange, libraries, data management, and other specialist professional functions, they provide essential expertise that supports the research ecosystem.

Despite their importance, support for Research Professionals remains inconsistent across the higher education sector. Opportunities for professional development, networking, collaboration, and career support often vary between institutions, creating challenges relating to professional identity, recognition, visibility, confidence, and retention.

The White Rose University Consortium brings together the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York to address challenges that cannot be effectively tackled by individual institutions alone. Through collaborative approaches to people development, the partnership seeks to share expertise, reduce duplication, build communities, and create opportunities that strengthen both individual careers and institutional capability.

Recognising the strategic importance of Research Professionals to the research environment, the White Rose Board has approved a 24-month pilot programme to develop and implement a sustainable partnership-level approach to supporting this community. The programme will be delivered in two phases: a six-month needs analysis and implementation planning stage, followed by an 18-month delivery phase focused on implementing recommendations and establishing a long-term model.

This commission relates specifically to the first phase of the programme.

The purpose of this project is to develop an evidence-based understanding of the experiences, needs, challenges, and aspirations of Research Professionals across the White Rose universities and to identify opportunities for collaborative action. Findings will inform the design of future interventions, resources, networks, and development opportunities that strengthen professional confidence, connectivity, and retention across the partnership.

This project will run in parallel with a complementary White Rose initiative exploring the feasibility of cross-partnership work shadowing, placements, and secondments. Together, these projects represent a strategic investment in the development, retention, and connectivity of Research Professionals, helping to build a stronger, more collaborative, and more resilient research ecosystem across the White Rose universities.

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Applications close at 23.59, Sunday 4 October 2026.  

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Project objectives

The Consortium is commissioning a needs analysis to understand the current landscape of support for Research Professionals across Leeds, Sheffield, and York and to develop evidence-based recommendations for future White Rose activity.

The objectives of the project are to:

Map the current landscape

• Identify existing provision, networks, communities of practice, development opportunities, and support mechanisms available to Research Professionals across the three institutions.
• Identify effective practices that could be adopted more widely or scaled across the partnership.
• Assess the benefits and positive outcomes these practices have delivered.
• Understand variation in support available across professional groups, career stages, and institutions.

Understand needs and challenges

• Explore the experiences, aspirations, and development needs of Research Professionals.
• Identify barriers to confidence, recognition, professional identity, networking, collaboration, retention, and professional development.
• Understand how support needs vary across different Research Professional role types and career stages.
• Explore opportunities for greater cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Undertake a sector scan and benchmarking exercise

• Review relevant sector evidence, initiatives, frameworks, and programmes that support Research Professionals within higher education and research organisations.
• Identify examples of effective and innovative practice from across the sector.
• Consider how emerging national developments, including the Research Professionals Future project, can inform activity within the White Rose partnership.
• Build upon and complement the emerging findings of the Research Professionals Future project, ensuring the White Rose approach aligns with and adds value to wider sector developments rather than duplicating existing work.

Develop recommendations and an implementation plan

• Produce evidence-based recommendations for a sustainable White Rose approach to supporting Research Professionals.
• Identify priority interventions that would provide the greatest strategic benefit to the partnership.
• Recommend delivery models, governance arrangements, and mechanisms for long-term sustainability.
• Develop a phased implementation plan to inform the second stage of the programme, including recommended priorities, governance arrangements, resource requirements, risks, dependencies, and measures of success.
• Develop an evaluation framework to support the assessment of future interventions and measure progress against agreed outcomes.
• Identify opportunities for White Rose to contribute to and influence the wider development of support for Research Professionals across the sector.

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Project remit

We are seeking to appoint a consultant or consultancy team to undertake this work.
The successful consultant(s) will be expected to deliver the following work packages:

1. Mapping the current landscape

• Map and assess existing support, professional development provision, networks, and communities available to Research Professionals across the White Rose universities.
• Identify areas of effective practice, key benefits, variation, and opportunities for partnership-wide collaboration.

2. Needs analysis and stakeholder engagement

• Undertake a needs analysis to understand the experiences, aspirations, challenges, and development needs of Research Professionals.
• Engage relevant stakeholders across the three universities using an appropriate mix of research and consultation methods.

3. Sector scan and benchmarking

• Review relevant sector evidence, initiatives, frameworks, and programmes relating to Research Professionals.
• Identify examples of effective practice and opportunities for White Rose to complement existing activity, avoid duplication, and contribute to wider sector development.

4. Recommendations and implementation planning

• Analyse findings and develop evidence-based recommendations for future White Rose support for Research Professionals.
• Identify priorities, interventions, delivery models, governance arrangements, and resource requirements for the proposed implementation phase.

5. Evaluation and reporting

• Develop an evaluation framework to support the implementation phase.
• Produce final outputs and present findings and recommendations to White Rose partners and stakeholders.

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Final outputs

The final outputs should include:

• A needs analysis report summarising key findings, evidence, and insights from stakeholder engagement.
• A mapping report of existing provision, support mechanisms, networks, and development opportunities across the White Rose universities.
• A sector scan and benchmarking report highlighting relevant national initiatives, emerging practice, sector frameworks, and opportunities for White Rose leadership and collaboration.
• A set of prioritised recommendations for White Rose interventions, including rationale, anticipated benefits, dependencies, and indicative resource requirements.
• A phased implementation plan for the proposed 18-month delivery phase, including priorities, delivery models, governance arrangements, resource implications, and measures of success.

An evaluation framework including:

• a theory of change or logic model;
• outcomes and success measures;
• qualitative and quantitative indicators;
• baseline data requirements and data collection methods;
• evaluation milestones and reporting points.
• A final presentation and executive summary for White Rose partners and relevant stakeholders.

The recommendations should set out a coherent and sustainable partnership-wide approach to supporting Research Professionals and identify opportunities for White Rose to contribute to and influence the wider development of support for Research Professionals across the sector.

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Approach

The needs analysis and implementation planning phase will run for approximately six months.

Consultants are invited to propose the most appropriate methodology to achieve the project objectives. We anticipate that the approach will combine primary research with stakeholders across the White Rose universities, a review of existing evidence and provision, and a sector scan of current practice.

The methodology should:

• Review and draw upon outputs and emerging findings from the Research Professionals Future programme where available, ensuring that this project complements and adds value to existing sector activity.
• Identify opportunities for White Rose to complement and add value to existing sector initiatives rather than duplicate them.
• Capture the experiences, needs, aspirations, and challenges of Research Professionals across a diverse range of roles, career stages, and institutional contexts.
• Identify existing strengths, gaps, and opportunities

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Reporting

The consultant(s) will report directly to the Head of the White Rose University Consortium.  

The successful bidder will be expected to work independently while maintaining regular contact with the Consortium throughout the project. Progress meetings will be held periodically to review delivery against the agreed work plan. 

Indicative timescale

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Format and submission of proposals

The White Rose University Consortium is commissioning this project and invites interested parties to submit a quote. To do so, please complete the online Microsoft Form, which asks you to address the following criteria (each with a 4000-character limit):  

Proposed methodology
Outline the methodology you propose to use to achieve the project objectives. Please explain why this approach is appropriate and how it will deliver meaningful results.  

Evidence-based recommendations
Provide evidence and/or examples of your experience in developing practical, evidence-based recommendations derived from research or evaluation findings. 

Work plan and timeline
Describe your proposed work plan, including key milestones and a realistic timeline for delivering the project. 

Budget and value for money
Indicate the anticipated cost of the project. Please specify how many project delivery days this represents, and include a brief justification of the resources required, demonstrating cost-effectiveness and value for money. 

Track record
Explain why you or your team are well-suited to deliver this project. Highlight relevant experience, expertise, and previous work that demonstrates your capability to meet the project’s requirements effectively. 

Applications close at 23.59, Sunday 4 October 2026.  

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Evaluation of proposals  

The consortium will assess proposals against the five criteria outlined above. Each criterion will be equally weighted and scored on a scale of 1 to 5, giving a maximum possible score of 25. 

Applications with the highest scores will be shortlisted and invited to attend an online interview with the selection panel during the week commencing 9 November. The interviews will provide an opportunity to explore proposals in more detail and inform the final funding decisions. 

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Terms and conditions

The White Rose University Consortium will appoint an external consultant subject to the University of York’s Terms and Conditions of contract.  

This request for proposals has been issued in good faith; however, the White Rose University Consortium, a part of the University of York, does not commit itself to award a contract as a result of any particular Proposal received. 

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Enquiries

Dr Karen Hinxman  Head, White Rose University Consortium  
Email: k.hinxman@whiterose.ac.uk  
Any requests for clarification or information should be sent to the email above. 

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Applications close at 23.59, Sunday 4 October 2026.

Apply here