As 2025 draws to a close, LSE Consulting is pleased to look back on a year of growth, collaboration and meaningful impact across our hubs, projects and other initiatives. From scaling LSE academics’ ideas and collaborating with Departments and Centres at LSE to delivering high-quality research for clients in the UK and internationally, the past year has been significant in LSE Consulting’s growth trajectory.
Milestones at a Glance
Research that Shapes Policy and Practice: Project Highlights from 2025
Our project portfolio this year reflects our commitment to working at the intersection of academic expertise and public impact:
- Urban Development Strategy for Shillong, India
Commissioned by the Government of Meghalaya, India, LSE Cities is leading a strategic review of Shillong’s urban development approach. The project includes the assessment of existing plans, the identification of relevant international case studies and the delivery of a bespoke training programme for local government officials.
- Research on UK Financial Services Productivity
In collaboration with LSE Growth Lab, we secured £30,000 in funding through the Financial Conduct Authority’s Economic Research Competition. As one of only six institutions selected, our research examined how productivity, competitiveness and regulatory frameworks interact within the UK financial services sector.
- Impact of the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage
Together with the Centre for Economic Performance, we are conducting research funded by the Low Pay Commission. Led by Rui Costa and Nikhil Datta, the study will analyse how adjustments to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) affect employment and productivity across regions, using a methodology designed to capture long-term and geographical variations.
- Evaluation Framework for Health Professionals’ Digital Health and AI Technologies
Prepared by LSE Health for Roche Diagnostics, this report offered an evidence-based framework to support policymakers and practitioners in evaluating the effectiveness, safety and broader impact of emerging digital health tools.
- Next Generation Kazakhstan
Produced by LSE Consulting’s Education, Youth and Civic Engagement (EYCE) Hub in partnership with the British Council, this report presented insights into the attitudes and aspirations of young people who have grown up in a fully independent Kazakhstan. An event to celebrate the launch of the report will be held at LSE in February 2026.
- Modelling the future of temporary accommodation in England
Commissioned by Crisis UK and led by Dr Tinelli from the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, this report analysed the economic implications of temporary accommodation in England and explored sustainable alternatives that can improve outcomes for households and public budgets.
View our portfolio of reports here.
A Milestone Year for Our Hubs
2025 marked a significant year for our in-house Consulting Hubs. The Trade Policy Hub (TPH) and the Education, Youth and Civic Engagement (EYCE) Hub achieved significant milestones, reflected in their first annual reports. These publications highlight the breadth of their work and demonstrate their impact across their respective fields and interdisciplinary research.
Explore the TPH annual report and EYCE Hub annual report for detailed project highlights.
Expert Voices: Our Newly Launched Blog Series
We are proud to have launched Expert Voices, a monthly blog series that spotlights the perspectives of leading academics and researchers we collaborate with at LSE Consulting. The first two interviews featuring Dr Elitsa Garnizova and Elisabet Vives sparked thoughtful discussions on their areas of expertise, and we look forward to expanding the series in 2026.
Supporting Innovation at LSE through Academic Business Support Services
At LSE Consulting, we continue to champion innovative, scalable ideas emerging from across the School. This year, we have supported, among others, the development of LSE FORGOOD, an initiative bringing behavioural science insights to businesses seeking purposeful change.
Specialised Behavioural Science Consulting with LSE Behavioural Lab
In 2025, we proudly announced a collaboration with the LSE Behavioural Lab, a dedicated facility at the heart of LSE’s campus designed for advanced behavioural and experimental research. Through this new collaboration, we support organisations in testing behavioural solutions that are both rigorous and relevant by offering end-to-end support for shaping research questions, designing experiments and delivering actionable insights.
Expanding the Academic Speakers Bureau
This year, the Academic Speakers Bureau (ASB) welcomed 15 new speakers to our growing network of thought leaders. We were delighted to bring in distinguished voices from LSE, including LSE President Larry Kramer and Professor Barbara Fasolo, as well as global experts such as Professor Michal Kosinski from Stanford University. Their expertise strengthens ASB’s mission to bring rigorous academic insights to events and roundtables, providing academics a platform to create impact beyond academia.
Bespoke Training by LSE Consulting
We designed and delivered multiple bespoke training sessions this year, including one-day on-campus sessions for senior-level executives from Mastercard Digital Safari and a three-day Masterclass in Social Science for Fundación Ramón Areces in Madrid. Each session balanced theoretical knowledge with practical applications, ensuring that participants gained both conceptual insights and actionable takeaways.
Stay Tuned
We have also continued to strengthen our digital presence this year. Follow our channels on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky to stay informed about our latest projects, publications and initiatives.
Looking Ahead
Looking to 2026, LSE Consulting will continue to strengthen its role as a bridge between LSE’s world-leading social science research and the wider world. We will deepen our engagement across the School, expand opportunities for academic experts to apply their research to real-world challenges, and grow our portfolio of projects that deliver measurable public value in the UK and internationally. Through our projects, hubs, and initiatives, we will continue to apply LSE's expertise to inform decision-making and drive meaningful change.
Finally, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a productive, inspiring start to 2026!