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Get involved: shaping the future of risk and regulatory research
At a time when the challenges facing health, safety and risk are becoming increasingly complex, collaboration has never been more important.

The Thomas Ashton Institute for Risk and Regulatory Research brings together the strengths of the University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø and the Health and Safety Executive to do exactly that—combining academic excellence with regulatory insight to tackle real-world problems and deliver meaningful impact.

By working across disciplines, sectors and perspectives, the Institute creates a space where research doesn’t just sit in isolation, but actively informs policy, shapes practice, and improves lives.

A different approach to research
The Institute was established to respond to a clear need: traditional, siloed approaches are no longer enough to address today’s interconnected risks. Instead, we:

• Bring together academic, regulatory and technical expertise from across disciplines
• Co-produce research that is both rigorous and grounded in real-world need
• Translate evidence into practical solutions that make a measurable difference
• Use system-level insight to identify emerging risks and opportunities

This approach allows us to move beyond theory—ensuring research leads to action and impact at pace.

Join a growing community
We are building a collaborative community of colleagues from across the University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø who are interested in risk, regulation, safety and wider societal resilience. There are many ways to get involved:

• Join one of our research themes or platforms
• Contribute to existing or developing projects
• Help shape future research priorities
• Connect your work to interdisciplinary and policy-focused activity

Whether your expertise lies in engineering, health, social sciences, policy, data, or beyond, there is a place within the Thomas Ashton Institute to collaborate and contribute.

Why it matters
Working with the Institute means becoming part of a partnership that:

• Tackles complex, real-world challenges
• Connects research with policy and practice
• Accelerates routes to impact through strong national networks
• Helps create safer, healthier and more resilient workplaces and societies

Get in touch
We are keen to hear from colleagues who would like to get involved or find out more.
• Contact us at: ashton@manchester.ac.uk
• Or explore our work online: