Mr Charlie Dorr
Profiles

Mr Charlie Dorr

Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) Manager

Faculty of Health

Biography

Biography

Current Roles

Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR) Manager

I am responsible for supporting the strategic development and coordination of this exciting new research institute. This includes encouraging and facilitating cross-disciplinary research, across the institute's diverse membership, alongside collaboration with both academics and non-academic stakeholders in other institutions. It also involves promoting the very impressive and impactful research undertaken by our members and attracting funding to build on this work.

Senior Researcher - Plymouth Health Determinants Research Collaboration 

Alongside my existing job as PIHR Manager I am working as a part-time researcher-in-residence on the new Plymouth City Council led Health Determinants Research Collaboration, which the University of Plymouth is the academic lead for. This exciting project, which is one of 10 across the UK awarded funding by the NIHR, aims to embed a culture of evidence-based decision-making in local authorities to help address the wider social determinants of health inequalities.

Previous Roles

ESF Delivery Project Manager, Academic Partnerships, University of Plymouth, March 2018 - December 2020

I was responsible for managing the University of Plymouth elements of four European Social Fund projects. This included two Hidden Talent projects delivered in the areas of Devon (including Torbay and Plymouth) and Somerset respectively, aimed at engaging, promoting and supporting the delivery of higher education to people from groups who are otherwise unlikely to access HE. In addition it included two Strategic Employer Engagement projects, in the same two areas, which aimed to develop provision which is more reflective of employer needs. 

Research Institute Manager, Faculty of Business, University of Plymouth, June 2016 - February 2018

One of my main roles was setting-up and managing the new Institute for Social, Policy and Enterprise Research (iSPER) which involved working with an encouraging cooperation between academics from different disciplines, as well as engaging with key stakeholders and businesses. In addition, I also led on a number of other elements of Faculty research activity, including working on research proposals, managing faculty internal funding opportunities and organising and coordinating the internal and external review of outputs in preparation for the next Research Excellence Framework.

Research Assistant, SERIO, University of Plymouth, June 2015 - June 2016

This role involved managing and delivering a portfolio of applied research projects and working the rest of the team to secure additional work. Specific duties included: managing and delivering applied research projects for a range of clients, including Devon County Council, Innovate UK and Cornwall Innovation; business development and proposal writing; and line management.

Research Manager, SERIO, University of Plymouth, October 2014 - June 2016

Responsible for managing applied research projects for such clients as NESTA/ Arts Council England and Community Housing Aid. Acted as lead researcher for the Evaluation of Superfast Cornwall and wrote the final project report. Also responsible for business development, proposal writing and line management.

Research Assistant, SERIO, University of Plymouth, May 2011 - October 2014

Responsible for delivering applied social, economic and market research projects for a range of clients. Duties included: project management; survey design; data collection; analysis and report writing.

Equality Development Officer, Equality South West, June 2008 - March 2011

Responsible for project managing a South West RDA funded migrant workers project and leading on human rights and age equality issues. Activities included: research; policy advice; event planning and organisation; reporting on project progress to the client; network facilitation and training delivery.

Policy Assistant, South West Regional Assembly, January 2007 - June 2008

Responsible for producing responses to government consultations (e.g. concessionary fares), developing the corporate communications (including drafting articles for the monthly ebulletin) and supporting the development of policy on Roma Gypsy and Traveller sites and migrant worker issues.






Qualifications

MSc Social Research (with distinction) - University of Plymouth

MA International Studies (International Political Economy) (with merit) - University of Birmingham

BSc (hons) Government - London School of Economics

Research

Research

Research interests

My current research relates to the wider social determinants of health inequalities. This builds on my previous experience undertaking applied research and evaluation related to a range of areas including: education and skills; higher education, employment, economics, business and healthcare. 

Below is a selection of various projects I have worked on:

Evaluations

Evaluation of the Torbay and South Devon Wellbeing Programme (November 2022-April 2023). I delivered this evaluation outside of my normal working hours as a piece of contract research via University of Plymouth Enterprise Limited (UoPEL) with the advice and support of Drs Julian Elston and Felix Gradinger. The evaluation has included a quantitative analysis of wellbeing data (e.g. SWEMWBS), a calculation of programme’s cost/benefit ratio and a qualitative analysis of client case studies and programme staff reflections. I wrote and presented an interim report and powerpoint presentation at separate meetings with the programme managers and programme staff on the 8th March 2023 and have since completed the final report (see separate attachment).

Evaluation of Superfast Cornwall - for Cornwall Development Company (2013-15).  Charles played a key role in delivering the Evaluation of Superfast Cornwall, at both the interim and final report stage. As the largest single piece of European funded development within the county ever, the programme aimed to ensure that 95% of premises within the county could gain access to fibre based broadband. As part of his work on the project, Charles undertook the economic impact assessment of the programme, which involved developing a method for estimating GVA from business growth and new business development. In addition Charles undertook interviews with key stakeholders, assessed the benefits to businesses and households, and reviewed key developments in broadband policy across the UK and the EU. 

Evaluation of Nightstop North Devon (2015) - for Nightstop Devon. The Nightstop service aims to provide emergency accommodation to young homeless people in the homes of approved voluntary hosts. Nightstop Devon recently obtained money from the government's Vulnerable and Disengaged Young People Fund to establish a pilot Nightstop scheme within the predominantly rural areas of North Devon and Torridge. Charles managed the evaluation of pilot which included a focus group with young people, interviews with project staff and surveys of volunteers and partner agencies. 

Evaluation of the Plymouth and Western Morning News Growth Fund Round 1 (2014) – for Plymouth University. As part of the government’s Regional Growth Fund, the Plymouth and Western Morning New Growth Fund, aims to provide grant funding for small and medium sized businesses in the South West to fund specific projects and help boost private sector jobs growth. Charles led on this project which involved analysing monitoring data and calculating the economic impact of the fund and interviewing key stakeholders to ascertain the wider benefits of the programme. 

Evaluation of the Higher Education Support Programme (2013) - for Unltd. Charles was involved in the national evaluation of the Higher Education Support Programme which aimed to foster social entrepreneurship amongst university students and staff. His involvement included delivering in-depth individual and group interviews with project participants. This was used to examine the extent to which the project supported university students and staff members to establish social enterprises in cooperation with members of their local community.

Evaluation of the Mapping Local Food Webs Project (2012) - for CPRE. The project aimed to equip communities across England with the tools and support needed to map their food webs. CPRE coordinators worked with volunteers in each location to plan and deliver mapping exercises, while a toolkit, to encourage community groups in other areas to map their own food webs, was developed and piloted. Amongst the activities Charles delivered were a series of interviews with key stakeholders in two key mapping locations, as well as a second series of interviews with the volunteers involved in piloting the toolkit. Charles also undertook an analysis of both survey and desktop data and contributed to the completion of the final report for CPRE.

Evaluation of the Catalyst Pluss Project (2011/12) - for Pluss). Charles completed a two-part formative and summative evaluation of a project to develop social enterprises and support people who are disadvantaged in the labour market to find employment. As part of this work Charles undertook telephone interviews with project staff and stakeholders in addition to a review of project management data. 

Evaluation of BASIS Torbay for the Future Project (2011/12) - for Groundwork South West. Charles managed and delivered an evaluation of a Big Lottery funded infrastructure project for the voluntary sector. As part of this work, Charles designed and delivered face-to-face and telephone surveys, and undertook data and survey analysis.

Evaluation of the ESF Progressive Isles Project (2011) - for the Council of the Isles of Scilly. As part of this evaluation Charles undertook in-depth telephone interviews with employers and stakeholders on the Scilly Isles and designed and analysed responses from an e-survey of project beneficiaries. In addition, Charles developed a series of case studies of comparable projects based on semi-structured telephone interviews with ESF project managers from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. 

Education and Skills

ESF Higher Level Skills Survey (2018 – 2019). I delivered this piece of work as part of my previous role as an ESF project manager (see above). It consisted of a survey of 131 businesses across Devon and Somerset based within selected sectors (construction; digital; health and social care; and manufacturing and engineering) to better understand their skills needs. As part of this work I developed the questionnaire, designed the sample, managed a small team of temporary researchers, commissioned telephone interviewers, undertook some face-to-face interviews, and wrote the reports.

Skills Planner – for Innovate UK (2015 – 2016). SERIO was the academic partner on this Innovate UK research and development project led by Ethos with a role providing research and intelligence on construction industry skills as well as responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the project. My role included researching and writing the regular skills updates which were shared by partners and made publicly available, delivering a workshop with further education partners and stakeholders in London, and undertaking the first stage of the evaluation.

Value for Money Assessment for Skills Shows and Competitions – for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (2016). SERIO was commissioned by BIS to undertake this value for money exercise of the effectiveness of the National Skills Show and participation in skills competitions in improving professional and technical skills and qualifications amongst young people, within a very short delivery timescale. My role in this study included undertaking the stakeholder interviews, the desktop analysis of skills data, writing key sections of the project report, and delivering the presentation of the findings to civil servants and stakeholders in the BIS offices in London.

Workforce Skills Programme (2013 - 2016) - for Devon County Council. I was part of a team delivering a three year research project on labour market skills in Devon. This involved me producing a series of regular updates on key labour market developments such as youth unemployment and apprenticeship reform, and has analysed and reported on the findings of a large-scale survey of employers within the county. In addition I reviewed, developed, analysed and reported on a set of economic indicators to monitor labour market trends within Devon, using such datasets as the Annual Population and Business Register and Employment Surveys.

Plymouth Skills Audit (2014/15) – for Plymouth City Council). I played a key role in the delivery of a piece of work auditing the availability of 16-19 skills provision within Plymouth. As part of this work I delivered a review of key education and skills policy developments and curriculum changes at both national and regional level. In addition he supported the development and undertook quality proofing of a database of skills providers from across the Plymouth Travel to Work Area.

Cornwall Enterprise Programme – Entrepreneurship and Education Research (2013/14). As part of the ERDF/HEFCE funded Cornwall Enterprise Programme, I led on a research project to explore attitudes to and experiences with business and entrepreneurship amongst school, college and university students in Cornwall. The research consisted of a survey of HE students within the county, followed by in-depth interviews and case studies, and a series of focus groups with school and college students.

Young People and Volunteering and Volunteering as a Progression into Employment (2012) - for Plymouth Guild. The research was designed to support Plymouth Guild to determine what volunteering opportunities exist for young people and any associated barriers from both a young persons and an organisational perspective; and to review the extent to which volunteering can act as a supportive environment to improve ready for work skills. As part of this work I delivered an e-survey of Volunteer Involving Organisations and young volunteers themselves, and developed a series of in-depth case studies based on interviews with individuals from both groups.

Higher Education

Student Voice Listening Piece (2013) - for Combined Universities in Cornwall. Charles recently project managed a study which looked at attitudes and awareness of higher education within Cornwall amongst school and college students. As part of the research Charles facilitated seven student focus groups, undertook in-depth interviews with senior school staff and undertook an online survey of parents.

Plymouth University External Perceptions Study (2013) – for Plymouth University. This project involved exploring perceptions of the university amongst members of the public, businesses and key stakeholders. As part of the research Charles delivered a series of in-depth interviews with key policy-makers, undertook a street survey and wrote the final project report.

Towards a Sustainable Institutional OER Culture for CPD Provision (2012) - for JISC and the Higher Education Academy). Open Education Resources (OERs) are online teaching resources which a free for students and lecturers to download, re-use and re-purpose. SERIO in collaboration with Professor Stephen Gomez undertook a research and awareness raising project on the use of OERs in Plymouth University. As part of this work Charlie undertook in-depth interviews with senior managers, organised and ran workshops with learners and employers, and drafted the final report. 

National Survey Reviews (2013 & 2015) for Plymouth University. The Careers in Research Online Survey, the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, and the Principal Investigators and Research Leaders Survey are undertaken in each university every year. Charles undertook the analysis and report writing for these surveys in 2013 and managed the process in 2015, highlighting key university strengths and areas for improvement. 

Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) Perceptions Study (2011) – for Combined Universities in Cornwall. This research involved exploring perceptions of European funded investment in higher education in Cornwall. Charles managed the data collection which involved interviews with key stakeholders, businesses and educational bodies as well as a street survey of residents in Truro and St Austell. 

Economic Research

DCC Economic Research (2014) – for Devon County Council. Charles recently worked as part of the team delivering an economic research contract for Devon County Council. As part of this work Charles undertook interviews with district council Economic Development Officers, reviewed the 2013 Autumn Statement and 2014 Budget, worked on an update of the Strategy for Growth report, and reviewed indicators and developed recommendations for the next Local Economic Assessment.

Taunton Growth Prospectus (2013) – for Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council. SERIO were recently commissioned to develop a SWOT analysis of Taunton’s economy to support the development of a visioning document. As part of this work Charles analysed key datasets such as the Business Register and Employment Survey and the Annual Population Survey, and reviewed key documents, including the State of the Somerset Economy report. Charles also presented the draft SWOT to officers from both Somerset and Taunton Deane councils. 

Sectors Research (2012) - for Devon and Somerset County Councils and Dartmoor National Park Authority. SERIO were commissioned by three south west local authorities to undertake research on key economic sectors in order to inform their local economic assessments and strategies for growth. As part of this project Charles supported a consultation with key stakeholders and developed a series of ‘sector roadmaps’ outlining key national and local developments and future projections for the sectors identified as priority. 

Tavistock Townscape Heritage FundApplication (2012) - for West Devon Borough Council).  In order to support a bid by West Devon Borough Council to the Townscape Heritage Fund, SERIO developed an evidence base around the need for regeneration in Tavistock. As part of this work Charles undertook an analysis of key data sets, including the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, house price data, business demographics and claimant count data and contributed towards a regeneration plan. 

Obstacles to Export Growth forAgrifood Small and Medium Enterprises (2011/12) - for DEFRA. The aim of this research project was to better understand export activity amongst small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agrifood sector, and to use the findings to inform DEFRA policy on supporting SME export activity. As part of this research Charlie assisted with the delivery of a series of telephone interviews with SMEs across the UK and undertook an analysis of the responses.

Business Research and Economic Impact Studies

Cornwall Enterprise Programme (2012- 2015) – for European Regional Development Fund and Higher Education FundingCouncil for England. Charles was recently part of the team, based at SERIO, which was responsible for delivering the research strand of the Cornwall Enterprise Programme, a three year European funded programme of business support. As part of this work Charles delivered an extensive literature review on the challenges faced by small and medium sized businesses operating in peripheral rural economies, produced a series of short research reports disseminated directly to businesses, undertook a large-scale piece of research around leadership issues and delegation, and delivered a survey of Cornish businesses on succession planning issues. In addition Charles also ledon the design and commissioning of the project website.

Economic Impact Assessment of Plymouth University’s Graduation Week (2015) – for Plymouth University. Charles led on a brief desk-top research study for theuniversity’s External Relations team to estimate the economic impact of theuniversity’s graduation week, held every year on the Hoe. As part of this work Charles developed and implemented a method for estimating visitor spend and return on investment.

Cornwall Innovation Centres AnnualClient Surveys (ongoing) - for Plymouth University.  Charles is currently responsible for managing the delivery of the annual client surveys for the Pool, Tremough and the Health and Wellbeing Centres, which each provide incubation space for businesses in Cornwall. As part of this research Charles undertook face-to-face interviews with business tenants, developed a model for assessing economic impact and wrote a series of reports. 

South West Health and Life ScienceIndustry Database (2014) – for the South West Academic Health Science Network(SW AHSN)). Charles led on a market research project to develop a database of businesses across the south west in the health, social care, medical biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries.Charles led on and supervised the collation of the database, the markets segmentation and the collection of additional information from businesses on turnover and employee numbers.

Longitudinal Survey for Superfast Cornwall (2014-15) – for Cornwall Development Company (CDC). In order to help inform the ongoing evaluation of Superfast Cornwall CDC commissioned SERIO to undertake a longitudinal survey of businesses to assess how the impact of the new technology changes over time. As part of this research Charles developed the survey, managed the delivery of the data collection, developed an approach to estimating economic impact, and undertook much of the analysis and report writing.

Health Research

Oral Health Promotion Approaches forDental Health Practitioners (2014) – for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Charles was recently part of a team undertaking asystematic review of both quantitative and qualitative literature on oralhealth promotion interventions. The review focused on the approaches taken by dental health practitioners and will be used to help guide dental teams in terms of how to translate oral health messages to patients. Charles' work on this project included selecting and reviewing relevant articles, data extraction and evidence table development, and quality assessment. 

First Trimester Fetal AnomalyScreening: the value of raised Nuchal Translucency as a predictor of poorhealth (2013) – for the UK National Screening Committee. Nuchal translucency (NT) is defined as theaccumulation of subcutaneous fluid in the nuchal region of the fetus at 11-14weeks. In order to help inform the screening anomaly screening programme, Charles undertook a systematic review of literature on the use of raised NT as a marker for health conditions such as Downs Syndrome for the UK National Screening Committee.

Other Research

360 Degrees – A New Angle on Access (2015) –for NESTA and Arts Council England. This research and development project, which was led by We are Freewheeling, in partnership with SERIO, Affinity and Living Options Devon, aimed to develop and test affordable 360 degree immersive technology for displaying artwork. A particular focus of the focus of the project was to improve access immersive artwork through making the technology more affordable and practical for small community arts venues and by bringing it into the homes of disabled people who have limited ability to leave the home. Charles managed the research strand of this project which involved training Living Options researchers on delivering interviews in peoples’ homes, managing a team of researchers and delivering surveys of visitors to exhibitions and workshops, undertaking semi-structured interviews with project staff, and drafting an attractive, accessible, final report.

IET Smart Cities Research (2012) -for the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The smart city, or intelligent future city, concept uses smart technology to manage increasing urbanisation in a more efficient,sustainable and environmentally friendly way. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) commissioned SERIO to undertake a national research project on the subject to inform their public engagement plan. As part of this work Charles delivered a set of interviews with stakeholders from government departments,academia, the media and local government, and launched, managed and analysed an online survey of IET members. 

Plymouth’s ‘Seven 2 One’ Scheme: AReview of the Costs (2011) - for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.  In summer 2011, Charles undertook a cost-benefit analysis of the Plymouth Integrated Offender Management scheme (IOM). As part of this work Charles developed a methodology for calculating the cost of crime, which he applied to the IOM cohort. 

 

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Kay E, Vascott D, Hocking A, Nield H, Dorr C & Barrett H (2016) 'A review of approaches for dental practice teams for promoting oral health' Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 44, (4) 313-330 , DOI