Research in Practice
Research in Practice is a UK membership-based organization that delivers evidence-informed practice resources, CPD tools, professional networks and commissioned research, evaluation and learning services to local authorities, universities and individual practitioners in children and adults' social care.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersTotnes, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Research in Practice does
Research in Practice is a UK-based, membership-driven organization that supports evidence-informed practice across children and families, young people, and adults' social care. It operates three membership tiers — Organizational Membership for local authority social care departments, Individual Subscription for individual practitioners (social workers, occupational therapists and related professionals), and University Membership for higher education institutions accessed via OpenAthens — alongside a portfolio of commissioned services covering research and evaluation, system improvement and transformation, and bespoke learning and development including leadership development programmes.
The offering combines a curated content library (publications, podcasts, videos, audio learning, case law and legal summaries, digital resources, learning pathways and a Link Officer Toolkit) with hosted professional networks (Principal Social Worker Networks for Children and Adults, Link Officer networks, and the Working Together with Parents Network) and CPD recording tools aligned with UK regulatory frameworks including CQC, the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and Post-Qualifying Standards (PQS/KSS). No proprietary technology stack, AI capabilities, APIs or SDKs are disclosed; the platform is a knowledge and professional-development resource rather than a technology product.
Research in Practice is part of the National Children's Bureau (NCB), a registered charity (No. 258825) with over 50 years of sector experience, and is separately registered as NCB RiP (charity No. 1211290) as a charitable company limited by guarantee. Headquartered at NCB's registered office at 23 Mentmore Terrace, Hackney, London, with the operating site listed in Totnes, it employs 11–50 staff and generates revenue through annual recurring subscriptions plus commissioned professional services to UK local authorities and partner organizations.
Research in Practice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Research in Practice
- Legal name
- Research in Practice
- Website
- https://rip.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Research in Practice is a UK membership-based organization that delivers evidence-informed practice resources, CPD tools, professional networks and commissioned research, evaluation and learning services to local authorities, universities and individual practitioners in children and adults' social care.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Research in Practice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Care Professional Development
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)
Keywords
Where Research in Practice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Totnes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Research in Practice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Organizational Membership: Local authorities and organizations subscribe to organizational membership to access resources, training, and professional development support for their social work practitioners.
- Individual Subscription: Individual practitioners can subscribe for personal access to resources, CPD recording, and professional development materials.
- University Membership: Universities access membership through OpenAthens for their students and faculty in social work and related fields.
- Commissioned Services: Research and evaluation services, system improvement and transformation, and bespoke learning and development commissioned by local authorities and partner organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Organizational Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Research in Practice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Research in Practice provides evidence-informed practice resources, commissioned research and evaluation services, system improvement and transformation support, and learning and development programmes to UK social care practitioners. Offerings are delivered through organizational membership for local authorities, individual subscriptions for practitioners, and university membership via OpenAthens, supplemented by commissioned bespoke services in research, evaluation, and leadership development.
Product overview
Research in Practice is a membership-based organization providing evidence-informed practice support across children and families, young people, and adults social care sectors. The offering is a comprehensive platform combining research and evaluation services, system improvement and transformation support, and extensive learning and development resources. Core services include commissioned research, leadership development programmes, and bespoke learning support. The resource portfolio spans publications, podcasts, videos, audio learning, digital resources, learning pathways, and professional standards materials. Membership tiers include organizational, individual, and university subscriptions, with additional professional networks for Principal Social Workers and specialized topic coverage across areas such as assessment, attachment, domestic abuse, mental health, supervision, and trauma-informed practice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research and Evaluation Services Commissioned research and evaluation service that helps organizations understand and improve their social care practice, with documented case studies of previous work.
- System Improvement and Transformation Organizational and systemic improvement and transformation support to enhance service delivery and outcomes in social care settings.
- Learning and Development Commissioned learning and development support including leadership development programmes, bespoke commissioning, and workshop offerings for social care organizations.
- Leadership Development Programmes Programmes designed to develop leadership capabilities within children's and adults' social care sectors.
- Organizational Membership Subscription membership for local authorities and organizations providing their social work practitioners with access to resources, training, professional development support, and participation in professional networks.
- Individual Subscription Individual subscription for social workers and practitioners providing personal access to resources, CPD recording, and professional development materials.
- University Membership Specialized membership for universities with social work programs, providing students and faculty access to resources and research evidence through OpenAthens institutional login.
Companies that use Research in Practice
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Research in Practice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Research in Practice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Children's Bureau (NCB)coreResearch in Practice is part of the National Children's Bureau (NCB), registered charity No. 258825. NCB provides organizational oversight and infrastructure. Research in Practice operates as a distinct service within the NCB group, with separate charity registration (NCB RiP - Registered charity No. 1211290). The organization leverages NCB's 50+ years of sector experience and infrastructure.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Research in Practice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- British Association of Social Workers (BASW): UK professional association for social workers providing CPD, publications, and policy advocacy. Not a direct competitor (membership body rather than evidence intermediary) but a comparable audience and overlapping content territory.
Emerging players
- Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care: UK university-based research and practice development centre focused on social work and social care, generating practice resources and CPD content for the same practitioner audience as Research in Practice.
- Centre for Mental Health: UK charity producing research, policy analysis, and practice resources on mental health, intersecting with Research in Practice's mental health topic area and its practitioner audience in social care settings.
Direct peers
- What Works for Children's Social Care: UK-focused evidence intermediary producing research, evaluations, and practice resources for children's social care. Direct peer in the same local authority buyer segment and overlapping topic coverage (assessment, practice improvement).
- Institute of Public Care (Oxford Brookes): Consultancy and research unit delivering evidence-based advice, evaluation, and service improvement support to UK local authorities in adult social care. Comparable commissioned services mix alongside Research in Practice's system improvement and evaluation offerings.
- Skills for Care: UK workforce development body for adult social care, providing training resources, data, and CPD support to employers and practitioners. Comparable in its membership/resources model targeting social care employers and aligning to sector standards.
- Research in Practice for Adults: Sister/peer organization historically focused on adult social care evidence-informed practice; same operating model and customer base. Operates as a near-mirror organization in the adults segment of Research in Practice's coverage.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): UK-wide organization that translates evidence and research into practical resources, guidance, and training for social care practitioners and commissioners. Closely comparable to Research in Practice in mission, audience (local authorities and social workers), and evidence-to-practice content model.
Regional players
- Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare: Australian peak body for child and family services providing evidence-based resources, training, and advocacy. Comparable mission and operating model but serves a different national jurisdiction (Australia vs UK).
Broad incumbents
- National Children's Bureau: Parent organization of Research in Practice and the broader umbrella charity with 50+ years of sector activity. Comparable as the broader charity context for Research in Practice's work and overlapping content/policy remit across children and families.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Research in Practice social profiles
Digital presenceResearch in Practice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Research in Practice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Research in Practice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Research in Practice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Research in Practice
What does Research in Practice do?
Research in Practice provides evidence-informed practice resources, commissioned research and evaluation services, system improvement and transformation support, and learning and development programmes to UK social care practitioners. Offerings are delivered through organizational membership for local authorities, individual subscriptions for practitioners, and university membership via OpenAthens, supplemented by commissioned bespoke services in research, evaluation, and leadership development.
Is Research in Practice a public or private company?
Research in Practice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Research in Practice founded?
Research in Practice was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Research in Practice based?
Research in Practice is headquartered in Totnes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Research in Practice make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Organizational Membership is the primary driver. The others are individual Subscription, university Membership and commissioned Services.
Who are Research in Practice's main competitors?
British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care and Centre for Mental Health. Direct peers are What Works for Children's Social Care, Institute of Public Care (Oxford Brookes), Skills for Care, Research in Practice for Adults and Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare is listed as a regional player. National Children's Bureau is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Research in Practice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Research in Practice.
What industry is Research in Practice in?
Research in Practice's product category is Social Care Professional Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAN, Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit), with a secondary code of BPAHALAF, Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research. Its NAICS code is 541720 and its SIC code is 8742.