Best Policy Impact Initiative Award 2022-23
Posted on Tuesday 23rd May 2023
Institute of Policy and Engagement Awards
Our annual awards aim to recognise the excellent work by researchers and academics on all campuses in achieving policy impact and engaging the public with current research.
Our 2022/2023 winners were announced at our awards dinner on Wednesday 26th April 2023. These awards are highly competitive and all of our nominees demonstrate outstanding contributions in their fields. You can view the winners and shortlisted nominees via the links below, as well as those from previous years.
Best Policy Impact Initiative Award 2022-23
This award recognises an individual or team for a successful activity or initiative where research findings and communications have influenced the formation or implementation of public policy. This may be through working with politicians, civil servants or any other type of policymakers or influencers at any geographical location.
Winner
Professor Alex Trautrims – representing the Rights Lab Business and Economies Programme
Nominated for the partnership with British Standards Institute (BSI), the UK's national standards body, to develop the world's first national standard against modern slavery. Launched in 2022, iy provides much needed guidance to help organisations within the UK and globally to eradicate modern slavery.
Professor Alex Trautrims (Associate Director of the Business team) and Dr Akilah Jardine (Rights Lab Visiting Fellow in Antislavery Business) co-chaired the standard drafting committee, comprising 50 leading experts Other Business team members, including Selim Cakir, Caroline Emberson, Thomas Chesney, Ann Touboulic, Jamie Wardman and Lois Bosatta have played a key role in the standard's development and dissemination.
The standard has galvanised action across Whitehall, including by the DLME, FCDO and the UK's Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy, who have requested the Business team's advice and support in implementing the Standard. The business team has subsequently been invited to present their work at a wider Cross-Whitehall Policy Network meeting.
This solutions-oriented work by the Business team has cemented the Rights Lab and University of Nottingham's reputation as the leader of national and international modern slavery policy-making. The team now regularly provides support to HMG (including the Home Office, FCDO, and DLME), the GLAA, and as well as international actors such as the OSCE and the Canadian Government.
The team are continuing to work with the BSI to launch new modern slavery awareness training, and work with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to develop an international equivalent, which has already secured the interest and involvement of key policy partners, including the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit. More on their work below: