DWP Areas of Research Interest 2026 · first published 19 June 2026
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published its 2026 Areas of Research Interest (ARI) — a public statement of the evidence and research questions it most wants answered across five strategic themes: employment and skills, child poverty, pensions, disability, and service delivery. It also covers cross-cutting methodological interests. This is not a tender or a call for proposals; DWP explicitly states it cannot respond to speculative funding requests. However, it is a strong signal of where DWP will commission research and evaluation work over the coming years. Small research, consultancy, data analytics, and specialist advisory firms can use this document to align their offer with DWP's stated priorities, approach DWP for a conversation, and strengthen funding applications to bodies such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Skills England responsibilities moved from the Department for Education (DfE) to DWP in September 2025, so skills-related research is now in scope here too.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For small specialist research, evaluation, data analytics, or consultancy firms, this ARI is a pipeline intelligence document: it tells you which questions DWP will pay to have answered before formal tenders appear. Firms with expertise in AI and labour markets, disability employment, Universal Credit (UC) delivery, fraud analytics, or participatory/co-design methods are particularly well-positioned, as these topics appear repeatedly across multiple themes. The explicit invitation to engage — including letters of support for funding applications — is a low-cost route for SMEs to build a relationship with DWP's evidence team before any procurement opens.
1. Email evidence.strategyteam@dwp.gov.uk to introduce your firm's expertise and request a conversation to align your work with DWP's ARI priorities — before any formal tender appears.
SMEs offering research, evaluation, or data analytics services — DWP explicitly invites this contact and says it will connect you with the right internal teams; early engagement builds relationships ahead of procurement.
2. Reference the specific DWP ARI question(s) most relevant to your proposed research in your funding application, and request a DWP letter of support.
SMEs applying for research funding (e.g. UKRI, Innovate UK, Nuffield Foundation) — DWP states that alignment with its ARI will 'strengthen the potential for research impact and aid applications to prospective funding bodies' and that it 'can provide letters of support as appropriate.'
3. Map your offer explicitly against DWP's AI-related ARI questions (covering labour market impacts, fraud reduction, claimant segmentation, and reliable data for automation) and use this mapping in capability statements and bid responses.
SMEs with AI, machine learning, or data analytics capabilities — AI and data analytics themes appear across at least three of the five strategic themes (employment, service delivery, further areas), indicating high likely commissioning volume in these areas.
4. Review ARI theme 4 (disability) and theme 1 questions on disadvantaged groups and neurodiversity, and prepare a focused capability note showing how your firm addresses these gaps.
SMEs specialising in disability, health, or employment support research or consultancy — Disability employment and functional assessment research is a multi-question priority (ARI 4.1–4.16), suggesting sustained commissioning activity likely to generate contracts accessible to specialist smaller firms.
5. Engage DWP via the ARI contact email to discuss ARI questions 6.3 and 6.9–6.17, which explicitly seek evidence on co-design and public design methods for employment, poverty, and disability services.
SMEs offering participatory research, co-design, or public design services — DWP names participatory and co-design methods as a 'further area of interest' with 16 specific sub-questions, signalling genuine intent to commission work in this space.
6. Note that skills (including Skills England) moved to DWP in September 2025 — reframe any DfE-focused capability statements to also target DWP, and check Skills England's own ARI for overlapping opportunities.
SMEs with skills, training, or careers guidance expertise — The document confirms DWP now holds the skills remit and lists multiple ARI questions on training, careers advice, and skills (1.20–1.22), opening a new buyer for firms previously focused on DfE.
7. Set up a periodic check of the GOV.UK ARI database and this document's update page, as DWP will add new ARI questions before the next full rewrite.
All SMEs monitoring DWP research commissioning — DWP states it 'will update the ARI database and this document with new ARI as they emerge', meaning new commissioning signals will appear between formal publication cycles.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
The ARI are not a tender or funding call; DWP cannot respond to speculative funding requests but will provide letters of support for relevant research aligned to these priorities. (All external researchers and organisations engaging with DWP's ARI)
“We cannot respond to speculative requests for funding as the ARI are not an invitation to tender. We anticipate that alignment with our ARI will strengthen the potential for research impact and aid applications to prospective funding bodies and we can provide letters of support as appropriate.”
Skills remit (including Skills England) moved from DfE to DWP in September 2025, expanding DWP's research scope to include skills. (DWP's research scope from September 2025 onwards)
“parts of the skills remit moved to DWP from DfE in September 2025, including responsibility for Skills England, who are publishing their own ARI”
DWP supports over 23 million customers and is using the ARI to build partnerships with external researchers to address complex, evolving labour market and welfare challenges. (All external research partners engaging with DWP)
“DWP supports over 23 million customers, aiming to drive opportunity and reduce poverty nationwide. To succeed, we need strong partnerships with researchers.”
DWP's five strategic research themes are: (1) employment and skills; (2) child poverty and financial security; (3) pensions; (4) disability and health; (5) high-quality, efficient service delivery. (All ARI published in this 2026 document)
“Our ARI are organised thematically by our four strategic outcomes, and our service delivery outcome”
AI and its labour market impacts, and AI use in service delivery, are explicit research priorities across multiple themes. (ARI themes 1 (employment) and 5 (service delivery))
“What will the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) be on the labour market, including for different groups?”
DWP wants research on how AI-based technologies can be applied ethically to develop claimant personas and design more tailored services. (ARI theme 5 (service delivery))
“How can AI-based technologies – e.g. machine learning, predictive analytics, etc. – be applied robustly and ethically to develop claimant personas or segments, to help DWP design services that are more tailored, efficient, and equitable?”
Fraud analytics and the use of machine learning and network analysis to reduce fraud and error are priority research areas. (ARI theme 5 (service delivery))
“How can the use of technological solutions including machine learning, network analysis and AI be maximised to reduce fraud and error?”
Participatory and co-design methods for policy and service design are an explicit further area of research interest. (ARI further areas of interest (section 6))
“How can we embed the use of participatory and co-design methods in both policy and service design in ways that are quality assured and enhance outcomes?”
Research on effective support for disabled people into employment, including methodology for measuring the value of inclusion policies, is a priority. (ARI theme 4 (disability))
“What methodological approaches can be used to understand the value of policies and interventions designed to remove barriers to inclusion for disabled people?”
DWP is interested in research on self-employment under Universal Credit. (ARI theme 1 (employment), Universal Credit claimants)
“What is the best approach to self-employment under Universal Credit?”
Research on the drivers of child poverty, including the interaction between social security, employment and child poverty, is a priority. (ARI theme 2 (child poverty))
“What is the interaction between social security, employment, and child poverty? Within this, how can social security most effectively reduce child poverty?”
DWP wants evidence on what works to support disadvantaged groups (including refugees, ex-offenders, care leavers, people with substance dependency or homelessness experience) into employment. (ARI theme 1 (employment))
“What works to support disadvantaged groups into employment? By disadvantage we mean claimants with more complex needs and backgrounds such as, refugees, ex-offenders, care leavers/care experienced and those with experience of substance dependency or homelessness.”
DWP will update the ARI database and this document with new ARI as they emerge ahead of the next full rewrite. (All stakeholders monitoring DWP research priorities)
“Ahead of the next substantive rewrite of our ARI document, we will update the ARI database and this document with new ARI as they emerge.”
The single point of contact for all ARI engagement is evidence.strategyteam@dwp.gov.uk. (All external organisations wishing to engage with DWP on research)
“Please direct all contacts to evidence.strategyteam@dwp.gov.uk”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.