Our team has nearly 20 years’ experience delivering quality research and support to shape service and policy. The real value we offer is in combining this research experience with knowledge and expertise across a diverse range of service and policy areas. Read more about our specific experience and expertise below.
Chris Thornton, Managing Director
Chris is founder and Managing Director of Engage Scotland. He has more than 15 years' experience in using research to help to improve services and achieve better outcomes for service users and communities – previously with Craigforth and now through Engage Scotland. This has included large and small-scale research contracts including public engagement and survey work, Citizens’ Panels and other engagement mechanisms, and service user engagement and feedback.
Chris’ focus is always on delivering real insight, whether that is with service users, members of the public, staff or partner agencies. Particular areas of interest include housing and planning, education and lifelong learning, and using creative approaches to explore the needs of harder to reach groups (including a specialism in research with Gypsy Travellers). Recent work has involved a diverse set of clients including Scottish Government, the Scottish Housing Regulator and other national agencies, local and regional partnerships, local authorities, and health and social care services.
Chris’ focus is always on delivering real insight, whether that is with service users, members of the public, staff or partner agencies. Particular areas of interest include housing and planning, education and lifelong learning, and using creative approaches to explore the needs of harder to reach groups (including a specialism in research with Gypsy Travellers). Recent work has involved a diverse set of clients including Scottish Government, the Scottish Housing Regulator and other national agencies, local and regional partnerships, local authorities, and health and social care services.
Mitch Miller, Senior Associate
Mitch has worked with Chris for nearly 10 years, now as Senior Associate with Engage Scotland. This has involved a diverse range of research contracts such as customer experience, needs assessment and consultation analyses – and a similarly diverse set of subjects. He has a particular interest in further and higher education, and researching the experiences and needs of Gypsy Travellers - having begun his career as a Field Researcher for the Scottish Traveller Education Programme.
Mitch's “other life” is as an acclaimed illustrator, writer and researcher on visual culture. He created the illustrative style of the Dialectogram, incorporating intensive research with documentary and ethnographic techniques to illustrate forgotten and disappearing spaces. Mitch's work formed part of the Red Road Flats project to commemorate, educate, celebrate and mark the end of an era of the Red Road Flats.
Mitch's “other life” is as an acclaimed illustrator, writer and researcher on visual culture. He created the illustrative style of the Dialectogram, incorporating intensive research with documentary and ethnographic techniques to illustrate forgotten and disappearing spaces. Mitch's work formed part of the Red Road Flats project to commemorate, educate, celebrate and mark the end of an era of the Red Road Flats.
Craigforth
Engage Scotland are the survey partner to Craigforth, a leading social research and support company based in central Scotland. Led by Lucy Robertson, Craigforth have been delivering high quality services to public agencies for nearly 20 years, providing clients with impeccable research, practical and incisive policy advice, and clear strategies for transforming services.
Craigforth's knowledge of public sector policy and service delivery is paired with particular expertise in housing management, housing need and strategic planning, social care, community capacity building and inclusion (amongst others). Their focus is always on delivering high quality research and consultancy services, working with the Scottish Government, local authorities, housing and other service providers, to improve policy and services, and ultimately to achieve real change for communities.
