I completed a placement with the Open Innovation Team in late 2025. During the placement, I worked with a small team to produce a policy report on an important, public facing policy area. The work involved reading grey literature, conducting interviews with academic experts, other civil servants, and industry experts. We also conducted a workshop with specialists in the area I was working on. The work was incredibly varied, interesting, and fast paced.
Any student looking to learn how academic work can be translated into policy contexts should definitely apply for a placement with the OIT. The team delivers regular training to get placement holders up to speed, then treats them as full members of the team, including on away days, strategy days, and social events.
I would advise any PhD student to apply for a placement to get some experience outside of the academy. The work I completed with the OIT will look great on my CV, but more importantly I picked up a lot of skills, especially around interviews and applications, that will be useful in the future.
