The contingent challenges of purposeful co‐production: Researching new migrant employment experiences in the North East of England

Abstract

This paper presents methodological reflections from a programme of empirical research across two distinct but related projects, which culminated in an examination of the employment experiences of new migrants in the North East of England. This mixed-methods research focussed on the position and experiences of migrants from the Eastern European countries joining the EU in 2004 and 2007, and refugees and asylum seekers from a broad range of countries. Co-produced by an inter-disciplinary academic team, migrants living and working in the region and voluntary sector organisations involving and supporting migrants, the research looked to address gaps in evidence to support education, advocacy and service provision. The paper argues that while co-production has tremendous potential to traverse the borders of theory and action in pursuit of positive change in people's lives, careful consideration needs to be given to distinct incarnations and the manner in which co-production emerges through specific conditions and relationships. We identify the principles underpinning this research, but also illustrate how our approach developed over time into a form of distributed-resource, which was able to connect organisations, people and financial resources from varied sources around shared values and an interest in outcomes.

Dynamics of precarity among ‘new migrants’: exploring the worker–capital relation through mobilities and mobility power

“…The survey is also discussed here insofar as it formed a basis for recruitment of some participants in the qualitative interviews. For further reflections on the methodology see Clayton and Vickers (2017) and for other findings see Vickers et al (2016) and Clayton and Vickers (2018).…”

Geographies of co‐production: Learning from inclusive research approaches at the margins

“…The first paper, by Clayton and Vickers (2019), "The contingent challenges of purposeful co-production: researching new migrant employment experiences in the North East of England," details the challenges of co-producing new migrant employment experiences in the North East of England. In this paper, the authors emphasise that "co-production has tremendous potential to traverse the borders of theory and action in pursuit of positive change" (2019, p. 396).…”

“…The first paper, by Clayton and Vickers (), “The contingent challenges of purposeful co‐production: researching new migrant employment experiences in the North East of England,” details the challenges of co‐producing new migrant employment experiences in the North East of England. In this paper, the authors emphasise that “co‐production has tremendous potential to traverse the borders of theory and action in pursuit of positive change” (, p. 396). They point out that co‐production takes on specific configurations in particular places, and highlight the importance of understanding that co‐production is forged of relationships, which bring to the fore emotional interactions and specific challenges.…”

“…The key to forging successful co‐production is understanding the messy and far from linear progress of co‐production, and adapting in response to practical and emotional challenges faced. Clayton and Vickers () emphasise how different partners in co‐production can have differing, and sometimes competing, aims and priorities, but that with degrees of “adaption,” co‐production can produce rigorous and meaningful research. The changes faced can also be structural (in particular in the context of austerity and the challenges faced by voluntary sector organisations) and practical.…”

Colonising public engagement: Revealing the “expert–lay” divisions formed by academia's dominant praxis

“…These reflexive approaches not only theorise academic individuals as agents of dialogue but delve into richer insights on the dynamic characteristics of the public sphere (Oughton & Bracken, 2009). Here, publics can form around different subjects and objects, and individuals can express different characteristics (i.e., roles and responsibilities) when they are part of a particular public (Barr, 2011; Clayton & Vickers, 2017). The effort to reflect on how academics shape their dialogues, even in informal settings, through their personal characteristics and relationships has been a positive step towards understanding how inclusive dialogues around alternative technologies (e.g., electric vehicles) can be developed (Esmene et al, 2017).…”