We are proud to have contributed to and produced a number of influential research reports for our clients in the membership and regulatory sectors. Recent public reports are listed below, while you can explore our membership research case studies to find out about unpublished projects that clients have kindly given us permission to share.
Medical and healthcare professional bodies
GMC: Experiences and motivations of international doctors who join the UK medical register and do not practise as a doctor in the UK
This research explored the experiences and motivations of international doctors – those who gained their primary medical qualification outside the UK – who joined the UK medical register but did not go on to practise medicine in the UK. We investigated their journeys, intentions and reasons for leaving, via a survey with more than 850 internationally qualified doctors and 30 interviews.
Explore the public GMC report here.
GMC: Public views on the implementation of regulatory reform
This project aimed to collect qualitative input from the general public on their perception of recent GMC regulatory reforms. Changes in legislation have seen the passing of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physicians Associates Order, allowing these professionals to be regulated for the first time. The research aimed to gain insight from individuals whose views may not have been fully captured from another consultation on the topic.
Explore the public GMC report and our related case study.
GMC: Corporate strategy and perceptions tracking survey
This corporate strategy and perceptions survey for the General Medical Council (GMC) tracked the perceptions of seven key audiences: doctors, educators, patients and the public, providers, Responsible Officers (ROs), stakeholders and final-year medical students. The study aimed to align findings with the GMC’s vision of being an effective, compassionate and relevant regulator.
Explore the public GMC report and our related case study.
GOC: Public perceptions
This research aimed to help the General Optical Council (GOC) better understand patient and public views on its Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, as well as their Standards for Optical Students. For this qualitative study, Shift conducted six focus groups with 45 patients and members of the public and 10 additional in-depth interviews with vulnerable service users.
Explore the public GOC report and our related case study.
GMC: Understanding doctors’ decisions to migrate from the UK
The overall aim of this research was to understand the decision-making processes of doctors leaving the UK workforce to practise medicine overseas. This qualitative research built on previous work by exploring migration ‘decision journeys’ and the practical steps and considerations involved at each stage of the process.
Explore the public GMC report and our related case study.
RCGP and MSC: Medical student perceptions
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and The Medical Schools Council (MSC) commissioned Shift to conduct a comprehensive survey with UK medical students exploring perceptions surrounding general practice.
Explore the public RCGP and MSC report and our related case study.
Our work for other membership organisations
VMG: The state of UK veterinary leadership
The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) has created the Veterinary Leadership Standards Framework (LSF), an evidence-based summary of requirements for effective leaders in the veterinary sector. The LSF is accompanied by a self-assessment tool, which veterinary leaders complete to identify their areas of strength and for development. Shift analysed 413 submissions via this online self-assessment tool, providing a report identifying leadership skills gaps and training priorities in the veterinary sector as well as a robust benchmark to focus its future activities.
Explore the public VMG report and our related case study.
IoP: Physics-based apprenticeships research
The Institute of Physics (IoP) sought to understand the challenges and opportunities of physics-related apprenticeships in the UK and Ireland. To support this goal, Shift conducted interviews with apprentices, their employers and training providers to understand current supply and demand, as well as barriers and opportunities, and support the IOP’s commitment to enhance the physics landscape in the UK and Ireland. Our research was the basis of a report from the IoP, which became a launchpad for a series of five Solving Skills Summits, hearing from more than 100 physics-powered employers, education providers and government representatives.
Explore the public IoP report and our related case study.
RSC: Higher technical provision
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) commissioned Shift to explore the landscape of higher technical and applied qualifications in Chemistry and related subjects in England and Scotland, with a view to shaping the direction of future policy work in this area of education. This research involved a literature review and qualitative interviews with employers, providers and learners of Higher Technical Qualifications to gather evidence on needs and challenges in the sector.
Explore the public RSC report and our related case study.
The Learned Societies: GCSE Science timetable models
This project was commissioned by the learned societies, a group of scientific organisations consisting of the Association of Science Education, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Biology and the Royal Society of Chemistry. The learned societies were seeking to understand the variety of timetable models used to teach the sciences at KS4 in schools based in England. Robust representation was sought, as well as insight into the decision-making that leads to the adoption of particular timetable models.
Explore the public Learned Societies report and our related case study.