GB-London: RSSB2715 - Making research findings more accessible and memorable

The RSSB R&D programme has been active for over 15 years and during that period more than 500 research projects have been delivered. The programme is funded with public money and there are cross-industry groups that act as clients for projects within different topic areas. It covers a broad range of issues, ranging from addressing focussed engineering topics (for example how to optimise the use of sanders on trains) to broad system challenges (such as the changing world climate). Given the nature of this content, it is important to communicate this in a simple and concise way that is also precise, exciting and memorable to the people that need to take the findings forward.

The historical approach has been to publish a 2 to 4 page research summary (known as a 'research in brief') and the full report on the RSSB website. These documents have often been published in parallel with presentations of findings to cross-industry groups. More recently, and only for key findings, we have experimented with different communication means including videos and infographics. Some members of staff and some of our partners in the delivery of research are better than others in identifying and delivering key messages in an engaging way. Most still fail to pay sufficient attention to key findings and how those might be implemented in the real world and make a difference.

2. Overall objectives

In 2018/19 we want to achieve a significant improvement in the way we communicate research findings and make them accessible. We want to rely less on reports and traditional 'research in brief' summaries and more on key simple messages delivered in a number of different ways (for example for posting on the web, use in presentations, etc.). The R&D team has embraced this challenge but need to be supported and guided, and the in-house communication team doesn't have the resources to provide the help needed.

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.