York St John University forms regional cluster of British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network

The British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) is now UK-wide with following the inclusion of Yorkshire & Humber, South East and East of England regions.  

This final expansion completes the ECRN’s nationwide rollout, offering tailored support to Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in the humanities and social sciences across the UK to help them meet their professional and research needs.  

The Yorkshire and Humber Early Career Research Network cluster is jointly led by the University of York on behalf of the White Rose University Consortium - which includes the University of Leeds and the University of Sheffield - and York St John University.  

Since its inception, the ECRN has grown from a single regional ‘cluster’ in the Midlands  with 500 members to 7,000 members in nine regions across the four UK devolved nations. An independent evaluation in 2022 said it addressed “an important need in the arts, humanities and social sciences landscape” and was “an undoubted success among ECRs”.  

The nationwide rollout comes as the ECRN Seed Fund call prepares to open on Wednesday 24 September 2025. The scheme supports innovative research projects while boosting the career development of ECRs. For the first time, eligible applicants from every region of the UK will be able to apply.  

This summer, the ECRN also announced a £5 million investment from Wellcome to launch a Leadership and Advancement SHAPE programme, which aims to nurture a healthy and equitable research culture for social science, humanities and arts (SHAPE) scholars at the start of their career.  

Funded by the Wolfson Foundation, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Wellcome, the ECRN is the Academy’s flagship inclusive network designed by and for ECRs. Members benefit from mentoring schemes, training, networking events, grant-writing retreats, academic book publishing conferences, travel grants  to attend network events and conferences, and seed funding opportunities.  

The final ECRN clusters also include Buckinghamshire New University, Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Southampton in the Southeast; and Anglia Ruskin University, University of Cambridge, and University of East Anglia in the East of England. 

Professor Rob Mortimer, Pro Vice Chancellor: Research and International York St John University, said: 

It is a great honour to be a cluster partner for the British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network. This will have a tangible benefit for research development in our region, by equipping early career researchers with management and leadership skills through training, mentoring, coaching and networking. As a university with a strong social science, humanities and arts (SHAPE) research culture, we look forward to supporting early career researchers in partnership with the University of York and White Rose Consortium.  

Professor Margot Finn FBA, Vice President of Research and Higher Education Policy at the British Academy, said:  

“High-quality research in the humanities and social sciences is essential to understanding and addressing the complex challenges of our time. Nurturing talent at the start of a research career is a vital part of securing that future. The nationwide expansion of the Early Career Researcher Network will give researchers in every region of the UK the support, resources and community they need to thrive – an investment not only in individual careers, but in the strength of SHAPE research across the UK."  

Professor Simon Swain FBA, Chair of the ECRN governance board, said:  

"With this final stage of expansion, the Early Career Researcher Network truly becomes a national resource – one that has been shaped by ECRs themselves to reflect their own unique ambitions and challenges. From its earliest days, the network has shown the power of connecting researchers across disciplines, institutions and regions. The addition of the South East, East of England and Yorkshire & Humber will ensure that, no matter where they are based, ECRs in the humanities and social sciences can access tailored support and build the collaborations that will define the future of SHAPE research in the UK."  

Dr William Barylo, member of the ECRN said:  

“The ECR Network is the family I wish I had when I undertook my Fellowship in 2018. It is a one-of-a-kind initiative that offers support and guidance and most importantly, gives us the feeling that we’re not alone struggling. ECRN events helped me connect with younger peers and others more senior than me with whom I share the same endeavours. I’m particularly grateful for the encourage and engage mentoring scheme which enables early career researchers connecting with people who’ve been through the hoops and loops of academia for several years.”