These opportunities and resources have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU) to help you understand how to engage with Parliament as a researcher.

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

Jump to:

Select committees currently accepting written evidence (compiled 15 October 2025)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence. Remember that you don’t have to answer every question posed in each call for evidence.

New calls for evidence:

All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence. Remember that you don’t have to answer every question posed in each call for evidence.

New calls for evidence:

All other inquiries currently accepting written evidence:

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.  

What should I expect? All evidence will be read and taken into consideration, but you may not receive a direct response from us or the Committee. To stay informed, we encourage you to follow the progress on the respective committee / inquiry webpages.

More information: all inquiries currently accepting evidence are found here  
Guidance on submitting evidence to Commons select committees
Guidance on submitting evidence to Lords select committees

Closing soon: Physical Sciences and Digital Adviser

Are you passionate about making science and technology accessible and impactful? You could join us in POST as a physical sciences and digital adviser working in an expert team that helps to shape national understanding and impact public policy.

This unique role will lead on translating complex science and digital technology topics into valuable insights for MPs and peers. If you have strong research skills paired with excellent subject and policy knowledge then we’d love to hear from you!

The role is full-time, hybrid and fixed term for 6 months, with the possibility of extension/permanency. Find out more about the role and apply on our recruitment portal.

The deadline for applications is 19 October 2025.

Why should I engage? This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of Parliament, in the team which bridges research and Parliament. This role will strengthen parliamentary scrutiny by ensuring complex research evidence is accessible to MPs, members of the House of Lords and parliamentary staff. 

More information: Read more about working with POST here. 

Watch a Parliament for Researchers training video

Looking to brush up on your knowledge of how to engage with Parliament as a researcher? The recordings for our ‘Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords’ training sessions are now available on our website. 

These sessions explore how research is used in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and how you can engage with Parliament as a researcher. During each session, a different member of the House of Lords shares their insights on the value of academic research in Parliament, informed by their professional background and parliamentary interests. 

The videos are ideal for PhD students, early career researchers, and anyone new to working with Parliament or looking for a refresher. Each session loosely focuses on a different theme, but contains useful information for researchers of all disciplines. 

There are 6 sessions available:

You can also find further training videos for the research community on a range of topics on the Parliament website.

Why should I engage? Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords training sessions offer a unique opportunity to learn more about the UK Parliament and how it uses research from the perspective of a Member of the House of Lords. The sessions also contain practical information and advice on how to engage with Parliament as a researcher, including details on select committees, the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries, POST, and working with individual Parliamentarians.

More information: You can find the full list of ‘Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords’ videos, along with recordings of previous training sessions here.

Share your insights on priorities for economic growth

Ahead of the Budget, the Prime Minister has signalled a renewed focus on boosting economic growth. The Government has said that it will set up a new board, including ministerial, advisory and business representatives, to help steward pro-growth policies, and encourage dialogue with business and the City. 

The Business and Trade Committee has opened a new inquiry to consult on its workplan for 2026, focusing on priorities around the topic of economic growth.

In particular, the committee is looking for input on the follow areas:

  • Business Confidence 
  • Pro-Growth Reforms and Investment 
  • Costs of Doing Business 
  • Productivity Growth 
  • The Role of Regions and Cities 
  • Better Regulation 
  • Risks and International Context 
  • Government Strategy and Coordination 

This is an excellent opportunity to bring key issues in your research area to the Committee’s attention and use your expertise to inform their upcoming work programme.

You can read more about what the Committee is seeking input on in the inquiry’s call for evidence – and remember: you don’t need address every point listed. The deadline for submissions is 14 November 2025.

More about the Business and Trade Committee:

The Business and Trade Committee scrutinises the policy, spending and administration of the Department for Business and Trade and its public bodies. You can follow the Committee on X (formerly Twitter) @CommonsBTC.

The Committee ran a similar consultation on priorities last year, informing current inquiries on financing the real economy, small business growth, UK trade with the US, India and EU, industrial strategy and export led growth.

Why should I engage? Select committees check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments and public bodies to topical issues in their policy area through inquiries on specific topics.

The outcomes of these inquiries are public, and many make recommendations to the government which require an official response. Bringing a key issue to the committee’s attention could lead to an inquiry into the work of government in this area.

An inquiry based on your insights has great potential to enhance your research impact. It showcases your expertise and involvement, bringing matters to the attention of parliamentarians who can hold government to account on the matter. The committee may also produce a report on the matter and the government is required to respond to the select committee’s report.  

What should I expect? All submissions will be read and taken into consideration but you will only hear back from the committee if your proposal has been shortlisted. The committee wishes to thank all researchers and interested parties that submit suggestions in advance and hopes you will consider engaging with this call.  

More information: Learn more about the Business and Trade Committee’s work on their website. Read about the ‘Priorities of the Business and Trade Committee for 2026’ inquiry call for evidence.  

Resources: 

Last chance: apply for a Midlands Innovation PhD Fellowship with POST

There’s still time for eligible current (or recent) PhD students to apply for one of two Midlands Innovation Fellowship opportunities with POST.

The fellowships are an exciting opportunity to gain real-world experience of how research evidence is communicated to decision makers. The fellows will join POST or a select committee, the House of Commons Library, or the House of Lords Library for 13 weeks. Fellows joining POST may produce a POSTnote, which is a summary on an emerging science, technology or social science topic that is relevant and timely for Parliament. POSTnotes are widely used as briefing material by Parliamentarians. Fellows may also contribute to a longer report, assist a select committee with an inquiry, and/or carry out related activities on an area of public policy. 

Eligibility
The fellowships are open to PhD students at the University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, Loughborough University or University of Warwick who are undertaking (or have recently completed) PhD study in a topic related to biological sciences and health, and/or social sciences.

Next steps
The deadline for applications is 23:55 on Sunday 19 October 2025. You can find out more about the fellowship, including information on how to apply on the POST website.

You can also read this blog by Chris, a previous Midlands Innovation Fellow, about their time in Parliament. 

Why should I engage?   POST’s PhD fellowships offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside. By the end of their time at POST, fellows learn how to write for policy with balance and impartiality. They also develop a unique understanding of Westminster and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research. Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to.  

What should I expect? All applications will be read and taken into consideration, but please note you may not receive a direct response from us. If you do not hear anything further, then please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

More information:  Find out more about POST fellowships. Watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience. 

Are you coming to the after-party?

We’ve been quiet for the last few weeks, while Parliament has been in recess. This particular break in the parliamentary schedule, which usually takes place between mid-September and mid-October, is known as conference recess. As we mentioned in last week’s fact, this is the period when most major UK parliamentary political parties gather for their annual conference. These conferences are highly publicised, and can include policy announcements, votes on key decisions and speeches from key figures in the party – in other words, it’s a great way to identify topics Parliament is likely to be interested in for the upcoming season.

So what?
The most effective time to engage with Parliament is usually when your area of expertise is on the parliamentary agenda. We know this type of reactive engagement can be hard to predict and to fit in around busy schedules. Making the most of opportunities to identify what topics MPs are interested in can help you prepare in advance to be ready to share your research with Parliament when it’s most needed. Reading up on the key moments from party conferences can be a great way to scan the horizon and use Parliament’s downtime to get ahead. They happen at roughly the same time every year, so you could pop it in your calendar now as a reminder for next year.