Edinburgh Napier University

  Each year we pose a “grand challenge” to provide an opportunity to identify how OR can be used to help solve real-world issues in our host city region, the UK and beyond. We have not been short of challenges in the past, be it the climate emergency, Brexit, conflict in Europe, or even how we build back better following a global pandemic. We are now experiencing the ‘cost of living’ crisis, referring to the fall in ‘real’ disposable incomes that the UK has faced since late 2021 (Institute for Government, June 2022). Our costs are simply skyrocketing – paying our mortgages/rents, how we heat our homes, fund healthcare, empty our bins, care for the elderly. You name it costs are going up.

This of course has a profound effect on us all – not just our pockets but our wellbeing too. Leading to a rise in inequalities such as in a healthy life expectancy and educational attainment. So, we have invited some local policy-makers and representatives of civil society to hear their challenges first hand and ask “how can OR help”?


The “Grand Challenges” will be offered by four guest speakers from the host city region:

• Cllr Jayne Innes, Chair of Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board, plus Chair of the Task & Finish Group, Coventry City Council
• Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Chair of Scrutiny, Coventry City Council
• Si Chun Lam, Insight Manager, Coventry City Council
• Steven Thomas, Marketing and Communications Manager for the MERIT Vanguard programme at Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Cllr Innes and Cllr Akhtar will provide some examples of the research work conducted by Coventry City Council Scrutiny Task & Finish group. The council recognise that a focus on inequalities at a time of a cost-of-living crisis is key – as real ‘inequalities’ and the themes around them all relate to poverty and poverty traps.


Si Chun Lam & Steven Thomas are keen to explore issues around population health management such as resource pressures on health services diverted as a result of still high covid caseloads while improving physical and mental health outcomes, promoting wellbeing and reducing health inequalities across the entire population. Mindful that moving towards prevention should ultimately lead to reduced demand on health services and thus saving on NHS resources and money.

Participations will be invited to structure, analyse and respond to the challenge(s) posed. The feasibility of each action will be considered as a potential Pro Bono project, research funding bids, consultancy projects and/or student projects.

This of course has a profound effect on us all – not just our pockets but our wellbeing too. Leading to a rise in inequalities such as in a healthy life expectancy and educational attainment. So, we have invited some local policy-makers and representatives of civil society to hear their challenges first hand and ask “how can OR help”?