A team of senior highly experienced researchers

KMC Research works in partnership with many senior research associates, who are specialists in qualitative and quantitative research across a range of sectors. Associates can be brought into projects to support as required, bringing valuable policy and methodological expertise.

We provide bespoke and high-quality research and evaluation services, with the guarantee that all projects will be conducted by a senior researcher.

Kathryn Crowther, Director

Kathryn has 20 years’ experience of leading and conducting research and evaluation studies in the education, skills and children and young people’s sector. She is a mixed-method researcher and has led and been involved in range of multi-method, longitudinal research and evaluation projects for clients including the Department for Education, the Welsh Assembly Government, Action for Children and BBC Children in Need.

Kathryn is highly experienced in undertaking research and evaluation in educational settings across a number of policy areas including school improvement, teacher workload, recruitment and retention; careers guidance and education.

Kathryn has a Masters in Social Research and Evaluation and a BSC (hons) in Psychology from the University of Leeds.

Louise Starks, Senior Associate

Louise is an experienced research and evaluation consultant specialising in working with the public sector including central government, local authorities, and the voluntary sector to help deliver better services to vulnerable children, young people, parents and families. She qualified with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Social Policy (First Class) and a Master's in Research Methods and has 24 years post-qualification experience.

Her wide range of skills include working as a learning partner with various charities helping to develop their capacity to deliver effective self-evaluation; applying a wide range of research and evaluation methods including qualitative and quantitative methods action research, peer-to-peer research, literature reviews, and realistic evaluation to understand what works in programme and policy evaluation. She is a member of the UK Evaluation Society, and support the Howard League for Penal Reform and the Fawcett Society campaigning for women’s equality. In my spare time, she is a volunteer and mentor for young people supported by the Youth Offending Service, and is an avid racket ball and padel player. She is currently studying to be a personal trainer specialising in supporting older people in strength and flexibility training.

Rebecca Atkinson, Senior Associate

Rebecca has worked in social, education and commercial research for over 20 years and has conducted quantitative and qualitative projects for clients such as the Department for Education, Youth United and the Cabinet Office, the Wellcome Trust, AQA, University of Surrey, Money Advice Service and Techknowledge for Schools.

Rebecca has extensive experience of researching young people, their families and those who influence their lives. She has on wide range of subjects, including teacher supply, retention and workload, schools’ approaches to tackling and preventing bullying, careers guidance and post 16 education, communications needs, behaviour change in young people, implementation and integration of mobile technology in schools, and engaging young people with science.

Kate Siddall, Senior Associate

Kate has been a qualitative researcher for over 17 years and has a wealth of experience within the commercial and public sector. She has worked on projects for organisations such as the Wellcome Trust, Nottingham Trent University, Department for Education, AQR, The Student Room, NUS, Boots, Asda, C4 and Unilever
She has covered a wide range of subject areas including; teacher recruitment and retention, exploration of experiences, understanding behaviour, communications including prospectuses, course content, websites and research publications.
Kate has also conducted research for organisations providing career information and guidance such as Plotr and the College of Law, and online learning tools to refine and improve portals for example CPD for doctors and maths tuition for pre GCSEs students.
Her main areas of specialism include:

Qualitative methodologies (groups, workshops, depths (individual, paired, triads), intercepts, accompanied visits and observations)
Concept testing, attitudinal studies
Decision making processes and customer journeys

Sam Fuglestad, Research support

Sam has worked in social, education and commercial research for over 20 years, working first in the Research department at the Post Office, and for the last 15 years as a freelance research analyst, specialising in qualitative analysis. Sam has worked on projects for various Government Departments, primarily Department of Education, Home Office, HMRC, and BEIS, plus organisations such as Nuffield Foundation, Thames Water, Southern Water, GMC, AQA, Richmond County Council, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and British Council.

Sam has extensive experience in analysing depth interviews and focus groups of a whole range of people on different subjects but has particular experience in analysing interviews of those who work in education and focus groups of young people. Sam is also very organised, and has supported some clients with their consultations, logging responses, and analysing them, as well as helping others to track progress on large qualitative surveys.

Sam has a Psychology degree (BSc Hons) from the University of York and an Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice (Market Research Society).