Meet the team: Andy Mycock, Cross-Cutting Lead for Place

Hi Andy. What’s your role within UPEN and what do you do?

I am the cross-cutting academic lead for Place at UPEN. I am a researcher who, for 20 years, led a largely traditional academic life. My research interests focus on a range of different areas, including youth democratic education and participation, devolution and public policy, politics of British identity and citizenship, and the British Empire and the Anglosphere. I led or took part in a range of government commissions linked to my research, and this built my interest in applied policy-focused research engagement. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the opportunity to get involved in the genesis of the West Yorkshire Policy Engagement and Research Network (the forerunner to Y-PERN) arose, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have moved into a hybrid space where I continue to undertake academic research, but I now work across the university policy engagement landscape in ways that have completely changed my professional life.

What’s your favourite thing about your role?

I get to work with a diverse range of people, including knowledge exchange and brokerage colleagues, policymakers and politicians, public sector practitioners, and communities – there is never a dull day!

What has been your career highlight (or highlights) to date?

Chairing the Kirklees Democracy Commission in the wake of Jo Cox’s murder. It was a huge honour to lead this ground breaking initiative, which was embedded in place, community, and belonging. It was important to connect with citizens after Jo’s death who were keen to invest in local democracy and build strong communities – it had a huge impact on me personally and professionally.

What do you think the biggest challenge in academic-policy engagement is at the moment and what can we do about it?

Demonstrating the value of our work to communities and citizens. We should be proud of what has been achieved in the past decade, but there is still much to do to ensure people are aware of the value of research and expertise, and rely on and trust universities to improve their lives. We need to get out into our communities more and involve them in our work.

What’s one small unexpected thing that always brightens your workday?

My cat, Claude. He always knows when I need a cat cuddle.

What does your dream holiday look like?

I love train travel and would love to ride on the Trans-Siberian Express – I hope (in a saner world) I will one day……

Time for Desert Island Discs! If you were cast away on a desert island, what three songs would you currently take with you and why?

Manchester is my home and the place that made me musically. I would choose something old, something new, (nothing borrowed, we don’t need to copy others), and something blue:

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

Anthony Szmierek – The Great Pyramid of Stockport

Frank Sidebottom – The Manchester City Medley

Give us a plug for something you’re working on at the moment.

I have a BBC Radio 4 programme – Andy Mycock: Named, Unashamed – coming out in April 2026, and I will be touring my comedy show around the country later this year. Check out my website!

How can we get in touch with you?

Via my website or Instagram @andymycock1.