Agenda setting research into work and employment

People, Work and Employment Department

At the forefront of academic research, we are one of the largest and leading groups of interdisciplinary scholars in work and employment relations in the UK and internationally. Our dedication to excellence is shown in our research and teaching, ensuring our students enjoy a dynamic and immersive learning experience, and our research and scholarship informs debates and practice policy makers, government departments, business and a range of other industry and professional association stakeholders.

Students benefit from immersive learning, cutting-edge facilities, and direct access to leading research and industry expertise, including professional accreditation from CIPD and CMI —preparing them for the challenges of a rapidly evolving and dynamic workplace.

Our research is globally connected, with active partnerships across Europe, Australasia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and growing engagement in Africa and South America. These collaborations support both academic research and education. We are also expanding our reach into Africa and South America, building on established relationships and shared research goals.

Areas of Specialisation

Our research expertise spans a wide range of critical topics, including:

Digital futures of work
Environmental sustainability and ‘just transitions’
Regulation of employment and labour market change
Social Inequalities, Diversity and Inclusion at work
Strategic human resource management (HRM)
Training, skills, and workforce development
Work organisation and non-standard employment

Work and Employment Relations Divisional staff

Our research

The central objective of the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) is to contribute through high quality research, teaching and knowledge transfer to contemporary national and international debates around the changing dynamics and future of work, employment and labour markets. CERIC is home to researchers that produce analytically rigorous research of genuine relevance to policy and practitioner concerns.

Our teaching

Our department offers research-informed courses in Human Resource Management, Management Consulting, and Data Analytics, providing students with innovative, real-world learning experiences.

Undergraduate courses

Masters courses

Research degrees

We supervise many research students and have an established track record of producing new researchers in the area of work and employment relations: one Chair, one Associate Professor, two Senior Lecturers and a Research Fellow in our department are products of our doctoral programme. Other graduates of the programme have gone on to academic and policy positions in the UK and beyond. Read more about research degrees, or visit our CERIC Doctoral Academy.