Scope

The UK’s census longitudinal studies (CenLSs) are data resources created by linking individuals’ data between censuses. The CenLSs have extremely large samples and a high degree of population coverage and geographical granularity. The data is research-ready and the quality of linkage is high. They can be linked to other datasets including education outcomes, health outcomes and service usage, and environmental and other place-based data. This makes them well-placed to address a range of important research questions, including Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) priority themes such as health and social care and addressing place-based challenges.

ESRC currently funds the following researcher support units (RSUs) that enable access and use of the CenLSs:

• CeLSIUS at UCL, supporting the ONS Longitudinal Study for England and Wales
• NILS-RSU at Queen’s University Belfast, supporting the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS)
• SLS-DSU at Edinburgh University, supporting and developing the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS)

The units also work closely with their respective statistical agencies, that is NISRA, NRS and ONS, to develop the CenLSs and to provide secure access through Trusted Research Environments accessed in-person or remotely. England and Wales (created by ONS), Northern Ireland (NISRA) and Scotland (NRS) have separate censuses, and hence separate CenLSs. The local partnerships between the RSUs and the statistical agencies are invaluable and justify the continued funding of three separate services.

The units work across the five pillars of the ESRC Data Infrastructure Strategy, particularly by ensuring researchers can access and use data (pillar 1) and have the skills and capacity for data use (pillar 5).

Strategic priorities for the UKCenLS portfolio

ESRC’s strategic priorities for the UKCenLS portfolio in the 2025 to 2030 period are:

• pursue UK-wide secure remote access arrangements which as far as possible meet users’ needs, at minimum through local safe settings such as the SafePods
• ensure significant levels of use which result in high-quality research projects. This includes promoting the use of the cross-UK resources maintained by CALLS-HUB
• engage with the statistical agencies and other stakeholders on streamlining approvals and access procedures, including encouraging the production of low fidelity synthetic datasets for early exploratory and developmental use
• establish a clear collective strategy for the UKCenLS, considering, for example, potential alternatives to future censuses perhaps with significant variation between parts of the UK, the provision of data access through the IDS, and the role of the UKCenLS in assisting the development of census programmes undertaken by the statistical agencies
• harmonise as far as possible the data access model, variables and training resources between the CenLS units

Applications should set out how they will contribute to achieving these priorities.

Core functionality of each unit

The core functionality expected of each Researcher Support Unit is to:

• enable high-quality, impactful research with tangible benefits for the public good
• support CenLS users during the development and undertaking of research projects
• design and undertake data extraction or analysis for users
• in partnership with the census agency, where relevant:
  • undertake checks for any clearance of research syntax, results and metadata, in accordance with safe setting protocols for both onsite and remote users
  • manage the output clearance and approved researcher process
• provide, maintain and develop documentation on the unit’s website in the form of a data dictionary, database description, application forms and protocols, in conjunction with the data owner
• provide training
• promote the use of the CenLSs by researchers and analysts, to maintain substantial numbers of active projects and users
• undertake appropriate methodological or substantive research to ensure that expertise within the Researcher Support Unit continues to develop and to promote the potential of the CenLSs
• promote the impact of the CenLSs
• taking all opportunities to tell users the importance of:
  • feeding back to the units on impact and publications
  • citing the CenLS data. This includes updating training materials where relevant

Development expectation of each unit

Each Researcher Support Unit is expected to develop and improve the services and resources it offers to users.

ESRC expects that costs for the following, or for activities of equivalent impact, will be included in applications:

• transition to secure remote access for the NILS and SLS (a forthcoming Future Data Services recommendation)
• a UK-wide small grant scheme to encourage use of the three studies, particularly by early career researchers (led by NILS-RSU)
• development of UK-wide analysis and harmonisation of the three CenLSs, including negotiating with the statistical agencies for a common platform, and updating UK-wide resources to reflect the Census 2021 and 2022 data (led by SLS-DSU)
• for CeLSIUS: support for additional secure census products and services
• for SLS-DSU: a significant expansion of topic areas within the SLS
• for NILS-RSU: enhanced capacity to engage directly with Northern Ireland local and national government, to increase the use and impact of the NILS
• for CeLSIUS: installation of four safepoints at UCL

Each unit should be closely engaged with the maintenance and further development of its respective CenLS and any ancillary datasets. The nature of this will vary between Researcher Support Units, reflecting the different origins and governance of each CenLS. Applications should clearly set out roles and responsibilities relating to this, and what activities ESRC is being asked to fund.

Collective activities

Collectively, the Researcher Support Units should:

• engage and collaborate with other ESRC investments where activities may overlap such as the UK Data Service and ADR UK. Applicants will be expected to build upon strategic relationships with these investments, collaborating in areas of shared interest such as training and outreach activities, where relevant
• agree the core responsibilities of the CALLS-Hub, including impact promotion, harmonisation, training and outreach, and engagement across all three units
• advocate researchers and CenLS data users
• engage with the wider UK statistical system and other relevant parties regarding the future of censuses (or adoption of alternative approaches) and development of new census-related and population data products, and how the CenLSs will respond to this
• engage with strategic projects led by ESRC, such as by responding to the recommendations of Future Data Services

It is acceptable for one of the Researcher Support Units to lead on a collective activity, UK-wide.

Duration

ESRC’s funding is available from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2030. All applications must have this duration.

Funding

The maximum permissible full economic cost of applications is as follows:

• CeLSIUS: £4,048,100
• NILS-RSU: £1,744,800
• SLS-DSU: £4,132,900

ESRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). Certain costs can be funded as exceptions at 100% FEC. See the ESRC research funding guide for further details.

What we will fund

In addition to the above requirements, ESRC can fund costs relating to research staff, for example post-doctoral research associates, who will work to maximise the impact of the CenLS, particularly by building on established and new partnerships with government and third sector organisations. This may include the production of research outputs, but the focus of this should be on increasing the impact of the CenLS and its use by researchers not funded through this opportunity. This latter activity should constitute at least 50 percent of the researcher’s time

What we will not fund

We will not fund:

• standard research projects
• writing up previous research
• preparation of books and publications
• literature surveys
• general conference attendance that is not related to the proposed work
• studentships

For detailed guidance on eligible costs please see the ESRC research funding guide.

Investment monitoring

ESRC will set out monitoring and reporting requirements in the terms and conditions of the award. Grant holders will be required to produce an updated timeline, deliverables list and risk register at the start of the grant, for regular discussion with ESRC.

The grant holders will be expected to provide ESRC with a short, written, quarterly update on activities. More frequent updates will be expected on important activities, risks and major project changes if they present a risk to the grant meeting its objectives.

The grant holders will be required to submit metrics on an annual basis. The format will be like those collected in the 2020 to 2025 period. This will be agreed at the start of the award.

ESRC will assign an investment manager as a lead contact for each funded investment. Contact will include a monthly catch-up meeting and a twice-yearly meeting between ESRC and the three units.

Applications should include sufficient time for project leads and, where relevant, co-leads to meet these monitoring requirements.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

Further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
   Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this Opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.  You should:

• use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
• insert each new image onto a new line
• provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
• ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors, for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.

Deadline

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) must receive your application by 8 October 2024 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data 

ESRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

ESRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at its Board and Panel Outcomes webpage.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the public
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context
• the challenge the project addresses
• aims and objectives
• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
• specialist
• grant manager
• professional enabling staff
• research and innovation associate
• technician
• visiting researcher

Only list one individual as project lead.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 1,500

What are you hoping to achieve with the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed infrastructure will:

• meet the aims of the funder, as outlined in the ‘What we’re looking for’ section
• identify and meet the needs of user groups
• ensure substantial levels of use
• have measurable impact
• enable high quality and important research
• offer training opportunities
• enhance, benefit and complement the existing landscape
• support innovation in research

Within the Vision section we also expect you to:

• highlight the consequences of not delivering this infrastructure

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

References may be included within this section.

Approach

Word limit: 2,000

What are your plans to manage and deliver the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Your application should include:

• a feasible outline project plan relevant to ESRC’s commissioning objectives. This should include a high-level work plan with milestones and deliverables. This may be in the form of a Gantt chart or similar
• identification of risks and appropriate mitigation
• details of governance arrangements
• details of training and development of staff
• identification of how accessibility and inclusiveness have been incorporated into the design of the project

Given the significant differences between the three3 units and the complex relationships with the statistical agencies, applications should clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of themselves and partners. This should include clearly stating who is responsible for maintaining the CenLS, enabling data access, and providing user support. It should be clear to assessors what costs ESRC is being asked to fund.

Within this section we also expect you to discuss the project’s main dependencies. These could, for example, include depending on the statistical agencies to supply data or services. Proposals should, as far as possible, give assurance that these dependencies can be successfully negotiated. This could include providing a letter of support (see the ‘Project partners’ section, below).

All applicants planning to generate data as part of their award must complete the separate Data management question.

References may be included within this section.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right team to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage)
• the right balance of skills and expertise
• the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on), have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. You should use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

The word count for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
• how you will manage these considerations

All proposals have to comply with the ESRC Framework for Research Ethics which includes guidance for applicants and links to related web resources.

All necessary ethical approvals must be in place before the project commences, but do not need to have been secured at the time of application.

If you are generating data as part of your project, you should complete the Data management question and should cover ethical considerations relating to data in your response.

If you are not generating data and have not completed the Data management question you should address any legal or ethical considerations relating to your use of data here.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Resources and cost justification

Character limit: 2,000

What will you need to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
• payments to project partners and service providers
• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• any equipment that will cost more than £10,000
• if applicable, subscription costs

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

For detailed guidance on eligible costs please see the ESRC research funding guide.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
• the project partner contact name and email address
• the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project partners section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter ‘N/A’.  Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
• describe any additional value that they bring to the project
• the page limit is one side A4 per partner

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed work?

All applicants planning to generate or acquire data as part of their award must complete this section. If you will not do this, you do not need to complete this section.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Demonstrate that you have designed your proposed work so that you can appropriately manage and share data in accordance with ESRC’s research data policy and ESRC framework for research ethics (if applicable).

Within the ‘Data Management’ section we also expect you to:

• plan for the research through the life cycle of the award until data is accepted for archiving by the UK Data Service (UKDS) or a responsible data repository
• demonstrate compliance with ESRC’s research data policy and ESRC framework for research ethics. This should include confirmation that existing datasets have been reviewed and why currently available datasets are inadequate for the proposed research
• cover any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data, including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical issues
• include any challenges to data sharing (for example, copyright or data confidentiality), with possible solutions discussed to optimise data sharing

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) reserves the right to amend this assessment process as the opportunity progresses.

Panel

ESRC will appoint an assessment panel comprising experts spanning the breadth of the funding opportunity’s scope. For this funding opportunity, there will be no separate peer review stage.

The assessment panel members will individually review and score your application against the questions and expectations outlined in the ‘How to apply’ section. The panel will then meet to agree a final score and any conditions for each application.

There will be a chance to respond to assessors’ written comments before the panel meeting.

The panel and ESRC will take a portfolio approach, whereby funding decisions are informed not only by the panel’s assessments of individual applications, but also the need to ensure that ESRC’s strategic needs are met at a portfolio level.

The panel will make funding recommendations to ESRC. ESRC will make the final funding decisions.

Feedback

We will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision
• approach
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
• resources and cost justification
• project partners (if relevant)
• data management and sharing (if relevant)

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the Application questions heading in the How to apply section.

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UKRI Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact datainfrastructure@esrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email datainfrastructure@esrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Additional disability and accessibility adjustments

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process if required.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.