ukhrg

UK Heritage Research Group

Who are we?

• The UK Heritage Research Group (UKHRG) brings together organisations from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales involved in commissioning policy research about the heritage sector. The group was formally known as the UK Historic Environment Research Group (UKHERG), but expanded its scope, membership and aims in 2008 to take in a broader range of heritage and a wider focus on policy research. Management of the Group is co-ordinated by the Policy and Strategic Development Department at the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the e-resources are co-ordinated by Ian Baxter at Glasgow Caledonian University.

What is our aim?

• The aim of the group is to enable different organisations in the heritage sector to make the most of the available policy research taking place in the UK. This encompasses both policy research undertaken within the heritage sector and which is undertaken outside the sector that affects heritage.

What are we interested in?

• Policy is any ‘plan of action’ intended to fulfil a clear aim or aims. Research helps us to make decisions about that plan. Policy research provides the evidence that enables policy makers – in the public, private and voluntary sectors – to make better decisions on social, economic and environmental issues. It does not cover technical research (e.g. into repair techniques or materials) although it may draw upon the results of such work, to both develop policy choices and to understand how policy can be implemented. Policy research is also distinct from purely academic research, in that it is intended to inform specific policy choices.
• A full list of policy issues of interest to UKHRG members would be varied and long but some current examples include: -
  • Heritage participation
  • Visits and the visitor experience at heritage sites
  • Education, learning and heritage
  • Management of heritage sites
  • The heritage workforce, skills and training
  • The role of heritage in economic and social regeneration
  • Heritage and climate change policy
  • The links between heritage and well-being / quality-of-life
• We define heritage broadly, as anything from the past which we value and wish to hand on to future generations; it encompasses land and countryside, biodiversity, buildings, monuments, archaeology and collections and includes intangible heritage such as reminiscence, traditions and language.

What do we do?

• UKHRG members share the results of policy research by or affecting the heritage sector, and their own experience in undertaking policy research.
• We seek to promote results of heritage research beyond our immediate sector, for the many important social, economic and environmental policy issues where it has relevance.
• We also aim to promote the value of heritage research within the relevant government research councils.

What is on this website?

Documentation produced by UKHRG is made available on this website, including minutes and papers related to Group meetings. Additional information is also made available here via links to relevant policy research material and evidence bases, UKHRG member organisations, and additional useful resources. Further details are also provided about the e-newsletter which is produced for the Group and other parties interested in the development of policy research in the heritage sector.

Contact

UKHRG is co-ordinated by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with academic support from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).
The HLF contact is Gail Fawcett [email]; the GCU contact and website editor is Ian Baxter [email].

Updated: 27 October, 2009 | Site editor | Legal