Nigel Hudson, MPhil., BA, BTech., MIoD

Research Director, Stratagia Limited

Nigel has been Research Director of Stratagia Ltd. since its formation. He has extensive experience of conducting  both qualitative and quantitative research into skills, qualifications and related issues. This has involved a wide range of research techniques, including in-depth face to face interviews, telephone interviews, focus groups, on-line questionnaires and facilitating stakeholder workshop discussions. Nigel has developed bespoke frameworks to analyse qualitative data and is an experienced user of the Atlas/ti analysis tool and SPSS.

Nigel is a leading authority on learning and development issues in small businesses. He has led research for the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI), completing the labour market intelligence report for their Qualifications Strategy, ‘Evidence of skill needs, supply and gaps for Business Enterprise and Business Support’, and a wide range of earlier studies.

Another major project was the QCA/UKCES evaluation of the Sector Skills Council (SSC) ‘approval’ of vocational qualifications pilot. This involved research amongst SSCs, Awarding Bodies and other stakeholders.

Nigel has also undertaken a wide range of research in the creative industries, including for the Design Council and Skillset.

Before founding Stratagia Nigel was a senior research officer at the Department for Education and Skills where he managed most of the research undertaken for the National Skills Task Force. Prior to this he worked in the Anti Poverty Section of the Economic Development Department of Leicester City Council and for a welfare and employment rights voluntary sector project in Hounslow, West London. Nigel is an Open University tutor for a master’s course in the philosophy and practice of social research. As a member of the Social Research Association he is bound by the professional, ethical standards of the Association.