Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I have extensively researched the process of devolution and constitutional change in England in the UK. This has involved an analysis of central government’s ability to think systemically and locally, central-local relations and local governance capacity in England. My current research is focussed on the following aspects:
Promoting healthy urban developing using systems thinking
Exploring the use of scientific evidence to improve policy and practice
Facilitating co-production between research and practice by promoting 'Positive Public Policy’
Complex decision making in Whitehall
Promoting local governance capacity through effective place-based leadership
My research is characterised by ‘engaged scholarship’ that centres on critical engagement with non-academic partners. As a recognised expert on English devolution, I have been academic advisor to three UK Governments and I have submitted 28 pieces of written and oral evidence to UK government inquiries.
Research Groups and Themes
- Urban Research Cluster
- Cabot Institute City Futures Research
- Health and Wellbeing
Keywords
- public policy
- collaboration
- governance
- systems thinking
- devolution
- Whitehall
- transdisciplinary
- health
- place-based policy
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Research output
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A Chequered History But Positive Future For British Public Administration Public Administration Review
Elliott, I. C., Richardson, L., Durose, C., Ayres, S. A., Boswell, J., Cairney, P., Flinders, M. & Martin, S., 12 Feb 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Public Administration Review. 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Beyond Blunders: British Political Studies and Successful Public Policy
Flinders, M., Elliott, I. C., Durose, C., Richardson, L., Ayres, S. A., Boswell, J., Cairney, P. & Martin, S., 29 Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Politics and International Relations.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
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Governance Coordination Challenges in the UK’s ‘Mission-Led Government’
Newman, J., Ayres, S. A. & Bates, G., 23 Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Public Money and Management.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Projects
- 21 Finished
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Improving funding allocations in place for levelling up
Ayres, S. A. (Principal Investigator)
1/06/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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Truud - Tackling the root causes upstream of unhealthy urban decision m
Ayres, S. A. (Principal Investigator), Kirton-Darling, E. I. (Researcher), Williams, D. (Manager), Bain, H. C. (Administrator), Carhart, N. J. (Principal Investigator), Le Gouais, A. (Principal Investigator), Rosenberg, G. (Principal Investigator), Walton, J. (Principal Investigator), Chang, M. (Principal Investigator), Newberry, P. (Principal Investigator), Papastavrou Brooks, C. (Principal Investigator), Black, D. (Principal Investigator), Kidger, J. L. (Principal Investigator), Hanss, K. L. (Principal Investigator) & Turnbull, S. L. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/19 → 30/09/24
Project: Research
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Promoting ‘informal governance’ as a leadership asset: A case study of Bristol Pound
Ayres, S. A. (Principal Investigator) & Bird, C. M. (Co-Investigator)
9/01/17 → 5/01/18
Project: Research
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Activities
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Policy Sciences (Journal)
Ayres, S. A. (Editorial board member)
1 Jun 2016Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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Economic and Social Research Council (External organisation)
Ayres, S. A. (Member)
2016Activity: Membership types › Membership or peer review panel or committee
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Economic and Social Research Council (External organisation)
Ayres, S. A. (Member)
1 Jan 2014 → 1 Jun 2014Activity: Membership types › Membership or peer review panel or committee