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A podcast from the Careers and Placements team, released every other week during UG semester-time.

Social Research in the Civil Service with Matt Smith

In this episode, Kate chats with Matt Smith, Senior Research Officer at HMRC, about his role in social research within the Civil Service. From interviewing members of the public about tax changes to managing large-scale research projects, Matt explains how social researchers help shape real-world policy decisions. He talks about the day-to-day realities of civil service careers, the value of curiosity and patience in research, and how a career in the Civil Service doesn’t have to start with the Fast Stream

Matt's Bio

After studying a Masters in Social Research at the University of York, I joined the Civil Service. After several different roles in various departments, including DWP, DHSC and MHCLG, I've joined HMRC as a Social Researcher. I work on a mix of commissioned and in-house research, providing insight and evidence that supports Government decision making.

Useful links and transcript

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Criminal justice

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