Over the past decade, the importance of developing the societal impact of research has moved from the margins to the mainstream of academic life. Universities are increasingly expected to demonstrate not only the excellence of their research, but also its contribution to real-world change.
Supporting researchers to meet these expectations is no small task. Professional services staff are now central to this effort—whether through training, advisory roles, strategic planning, or one-to-one support. But as these roles evolve, so too do the skills required. And one skillset that’s becoming more and more vital? Coaching.
That’s why we’ve co-created a new one-day online workshop – Coaching Skills for Impact Officers – in partnership with Dr Natalie James of Research Coach Ltd. Natalie brings deep expertise in coaching within higher education, and we’ve designed this course together to meet the real, day-to-day challenges of those supporting research impact.
At Insights for Impact, we’ve worked with hundreds of research support professionals, and we consistently hear the same challenges:
“I feel like I’m expected to have all the answers.”
“Every researcher is different – I don’t know how to tailor my support.”
“I’m not sure when to advise and when to just listen.”
This workshop offers a practical, grounded introduction to using coaching techniques to engage and empower researchers more effectively.
Why coaching?
A coaching-informed approach helps move conversations from one-way delivery to mutual exploration. It allows research support staff to:
- Meet researchers where they are – whether they’re new to impact or highly experienced
- Ask better questions that surface values, motivations, and priorities
- Avoid the trap of “doing the impact for them”
- Encourage sustainable, researcher-led impact strategies
Crucially, coaching techniques also support more inclusive and equitable engagement. When we listen actively and stay curious, we create space for more diverse voices, experiences, and forms of impact to emerge.
What the workshop covers
Coaching Skills for Impact Officers has been designed by Saskia Gent (Insights for Impact) and Dr Natalie James (Research Coach Ltd) to reflect the realities of working in impact roles today. The day includes:
- Core coaching skills: active listening, open questioning, empathetic engagement
- When (and when not) to offer advice
- How to prepare for and structure effective coaching-informed conversations
- Real-world scenarios and small-group practice
You’ll leave with tools you can start using immediately in your work – and the confidence to build more empowering, less directive relationships with the researchers you support.
Who it’s for
This workshop is designed for all professional services staff who engage with researchers around research impact. You might be in an impact team, a KE office, or a central research support role. Whether you’re new to the role or an experienced manager, this course will help you embed a more human, responsive approach into your practice.
What Others Say
Previous workshop participants:
“I feel I’m now equipped with a good starting knowledge base to begin incorporating coaching into my work.”
“The benefit of this approach is that it takes the onus off me… we’re facilitating thinking, not doing the work for them.”
“This workshop took the training beyond the general… to where coaching might actually fit.”
Anne-Sofie Laegran, Head of Research Impact, University of Edinburgh: “We would highly recommend this to other institutions.”
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This the second, Coaching Skills for Impact Officers workshop takes place online on Tuesday 14 April 2026, from 10am to 4pm (BST). Places are £450 including VAT each and are limited to ensure a high-quality, interactive experience. Tickets are on sale from 9.55am on Friday 14 November.
🖱️ Click here to book your place
If you’d like to talk about whether the course is right for you or your team, feel free to get in touch.
Let’s build impact support that’s confident, collaborative, and grounded in curiosity.
After more than a decade working with universities in the UK, Europe, and in the developing world, Saskia Gent launched Insights for Impact to offer consultancy services to institutions, researchers, departments, and research projects, enabling them to access impact expertise, add flexible resource, and address specific issues innovatively.
