Research and Consultancy

The Centre provides high quality, independent, research and consultancy services to government, local authorities, credit providers, and civil society organisations. Our current work programme is based on the three themes of informing future credit regulation and practice; helping local communities respond to the crisis; and supporting asset building amongst lower income groups.   Examples of current and recent work in each of these themes are set out below.

Informing future credit regulation and practice

  • We have conducted a review of international approaches to debt management and insolvency systems in Europe, the US and Canada, and also looked at the differences in approach to dealing with mortgage arrears in the UK, US, and Ireland. This is informing a programme of work to look at how we can ensure insolvency systems promote economic growth and how debtors can be effectively rehabilitated to sustainable credit markets moving forwards

  • Undertaking a review of the payday lending debate and reviewing options for future regulatory responses
     
  • Reviewing bank social responsibility reporting and promoting best practice and examining the way in which bank disclosure concerning their provision in disadvantaged communities can be improved to help local regeneration efforts and community planning processes.

Helping local communities respond to the crisis

  • Conducting a study of the impacts of financial problems on jobseeking behaviour and providing recommendations for service improvements
     
  • Supporting improvements in the commissioning of advice provision
     
  • Monitoring and reporting on a set of local debt indicators to help policymakers identify the worst affected areas and target resources and to help local partnerships track performance
     

Supporting asset building amongst low income groups

  • This is a new theme for 2012 and we will be looking to establish practical proposals to help lower income households build up savings and develop alternatives to credit use, for example through the use of co-operative purchasing schemes. We will also be looking at the need to better link debt advice, financial education, and savings products in order to help people escape their current financial difficulties and become more financially secure.

     

We are therefore open to proposals for work in respect of credit regulation, advice provision, the impacts of debt and exclusion from mainstream financial services, and lending policy and practice. We are able to use a variety of research techniques as appropriate to deliver these.

If you would like to discuss how the Centre can work with you in these areas please contact our Director, Damon Gibbons