It’s often said that people rarely plan a career in social research, often stumbling into it by mistake. And yet, for most, it proves to be a rewarding career, knowing that you’re helping shape public policy and making a difference to people’s lives.
It can also prove really interesting, with the opportunity to focus on areas you’re really passionate about, whether that’s enhancing learning and skills, building stronger communities, or building a more sustainable economy.
As part of our day in the life series we caught up with one of IFF’s newest directors, Joe Hudson, to find out a bit more about what his work entails within our Energy & Environment sector and how he finds life at IFF.
When did you join IFF Research?
I joined IFF in January 2024 as a director focusing on energy & environmental research. Before that, I spent 12 years at the environmental consultancy Eunomia.
How are you finding it so far?
It’s been great. Everyone has been super welcoming and friendly, the office is lovely, and the work is really interesting.
I thought it would feel strange working for a company that isn’t entirely focused on environmental issues, but it hasn’t been. As our Managing Director recently pointed out, IFF has conducted research on nearly every subject area in the recent election debates. It feels good to be part of a company that is active across so many societal issues. Though it’s a shame that the climate / nature emergencies weren’t more prominent in those debates.
Can you tell us a bit about the work that you’ve been doing?
I’m working on a couple of multi-year evaluations for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and a survey for Ofgem that is looking to understand how businesses are navigating the energy market. So, it’s mainly energy-related projects at the moment. Although we’re expanding our offer into other areas of focus such as water and waste, and part of my role is to help support that transition.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend roughly half my days in the office and the other half working from home. On the days that I’m in the office, I’m looking after my 1-year-old son in the mornings and doing the nursery drop-off. I then get the first off-peak train into London and arrive in the office just before 10am. From then on, it depends! I’ve been working on quite a few bids recently, so I’ll often have my head down writing a methodology section. I might also be contributing to, or reviewing, project outputs (e.g. questionnaires or findings reports), having catchups with clients, or helping with internal projects. I try to leave around 6pm.
What do you think makes IFF stand out?
A few things come to mind. There’s a really strong emphasis on quality, with senior staff being ‘hands-on’ in project delivery. There is a great training programme on core social research skills, which I’ve been making the most of given that I don’t come from an agency background. The company culture is top notch. There’s a nice feel to the place.
What are you most excited about in the future?
A government that takes environmental issues seriously. We’ve seen some positive signs from the new Labour government already.
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We’re always on the look out for great people to join our team. If you’re looking for a rewarding role in research, find out more about life at IFF. Or why not look at some of our current vacancies?