Our values
Shortwork is a social research and evaluation consultancy that puts participatory values and approaches at the centre of our work. For almost a decade, we have been working in ways that put communities at the heart of the inquiry process. Whether you are looking for an evaluation co-produced by the communities you serve, a research project with less-heard-from groups, or a learning partnership to embed community research and PAR methods into your own organisation, Shortwork can help.
Too often, evaluation and research feels like an audit, not a dialogue. Shortwork takes a relational design approach, in which those who are taking part have a hand in shaping the questions we ask, interpreting the findings and deciding how that knowledge is used and shared.
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We design for trust, not just "engagement", by spending time allowing people to get to know each other, to compensate everyone fairly, sharing skills and advocating for their priorities, and by leaving behind not just our findings, but also our tools, illustrations and frameworks to be re-used in future.
At Shortwork, we believe creativity in research isn’t just about "making it fun" (though we do that, too). It’s about designing tailored methods that reveal truths that are too often missed by rigid frameworks, tired templates, and defaulting to surveys.
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We measure what matters, even if it's messy, by using our own tools like journey mapping, card games, and visual metaphors to capture intangible and intersecting impacts, and to explain change in people's own words. We invite play into the process because people share more freely when they are making something with their own hands.
Research and evaluation shouldn’t end with a report on a shelf. They should start conversations, shift strategies, and spark change. We make findings actionable by design, ensuring every insight is grounded, practical, and owned by the people who need to act on it.
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We do this by co-designing the questions that matter, working with communities and stakeholders from the outset to define what will actually be useful. Throughout the project, we have open conversations and sense-making workshops to discuss findings and define next steps together. Finally, we make grounded, honest recommendations that offer realistic ways forward. No vague suggestions or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Our Process
We want the process of commissioning a research or evaluation project to be an enjoyable and collaborative experience. We will guide you through the different stages including defining the research questions and methods; undertaking the fieldwork;, analysing the data that has been collected; reporting and sharing the findings. We will make sure you know what is coming up, when key decisions need to be made, and that we’re on track and on budget.
Step One - Discovery
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The first step is to get some initial information about your project, including the topic area, times-scales and budget.
Step Two - Design
Next, we’ll arrange a workshop to discuss the project, and to make sure everyone is on the same page. We’ll ask questions to get a deeper knowledge of your priorities, think carefully about research questions, who needs to be engaged, as well as the input we need from you and your team at different stages.
Step Three - Develop
We will make any final tweaks to the research plan for you to sign off. This will include a detailed table setting out the research questions, methods and approach to analysis, as well as a timetable of key milestones including the fieldwork, data analysis, early findings and the final report.
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It will also include a pack of research resources including interview and facilitation guides, consent, demographics and data protection forms.
Step Four - Data collection
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Our small, dedicated team of researchers will get to work on engaging people in the research through in-depth interviews, focus groups and participatory research sessions.
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We will invite you to participate in some of these sessions, and will keep you informed about progress, so you can see the care and attention that goes into the work that we do.
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Step Five - Digest
Once the fieldwork is underway we will carefully record the information we have gathered, and will start to develop a coding framework using specialist data analysis software to draw out recurring themes, as well as powerful, illustrative stories that will be written up as case studies.
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We will share the early findings and case studies with you in the form of a draft report.
We will ask for your feedback and input to improve the report, as well as some photographs and other images to illustrate it.
Step Six - Disseminate
Finally, we will integrate your changes and produce an accessible and beautifully designed report for print or the web, that will set out the background, methods, findings and conclusions of the research.
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We will help you to publicise the results of the research, and make sure that everyone who needs to can access and celebrate it. We will help distribute the findings through our networks, and will present the findings at events and conferences.
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If there’s a celebration event, seminar, launch or party we would love to be there!