Meet the team
RESEARCH MANAGER
Melanie Brooks
Melanie Brooks is a Research Manager with over 25 years' experience across academic, public and commercial research environments. Drawing on a background in both university-based and commercial market research, she brings a strong applied and client-focused perspective to research and evaluation projects.
Melanie leads and coordinates a wide range of evaluations, social research and market research projects, managing all stages of the research process from design and fieldwork through to analysis, reporting and dissemination.
With expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, Melanie specialises in delivering robust, actionable evidence that supports decision-making, service development and strategic planning. Her collaborative approach and strong project management skills help ensure projects are delivered efficiently, effectively and to a high standard.
RESEARCH MANAGER
Rachael Skelton
Rachael is an experienced Research Manager who combines strong methodological knowledge with a practical, client-focused approach. Rachael is highly skilled at building trusted relationships, quickly understanding organisational needs and tailoring research approaches to suit complex and often sensitive contexts. She is known for her professionalism, clear communication and ability to navigate challenging situations with confidence, ensuring clients feel supported and informed throughout the research process.
A highly capable project manager, Rachael leads projects from inception through to delivery, coordinating complex multi-stakeholder programmes while maintaining a strong focus on quality, timelines and impact. Her expertise includes theory of change development, impact measurement, cost-benefit analysis, Social Return on Investment (SROI), qualitative and quantitative research, and engagement with vulnerable or seldom-heard groups. Through rigorous research, practical insight and creative problem-solving, Rachael delivers evidence that supports strategic decision-making, service improvement and meaningful change.
RESEARCHER
Helen Barrett
Helen is a highly experienced mixed-methods researcher with over 15 years' professional experience in social research and evaluation. She has particular expertise in research with vulnerable groups and in measuring and evidencing social value, helping organisations understand and demonstrate the wider impact of their activities on people and communities. Known for her high attention to detail and clear, engaging writing style, she brings rigour and clarity to complex research questions. Helen is committed to designing and delivering research studies, evaluations and evidence reviews that help organisations make informed decisions and improve services and outcomes.
She holds a BA in Geography and an MSc in Development Management, and has formal training in Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis and systematic review methods. Helen brings a rigorous, practical and evidence-led approach to research and evaluation.
RESEARCHER
Aimée Ralls
Aimée is a social impact researcher specialising in the evaluation of programmes that support communities, young people, and underrepresented groups. She works with public sector bodies, charities, and national funders to help them learn from evidence, to understand what their initiatives are achieving and how to create lasting change.
She combines quantitative and qualitative expertise, drawing on stakeholder and participant interviews, focus groups, online surveys, and analytical tools such as NVivo and SPSS. She takes time to understand each client's context and requirements, shaping research that is both robust and genuinely useful.
She builds strong rapport with participants, ensuring that diverse and underrepresented voices are authentically captured, and translates complex data into clear, visual representations for both academic and non-academic audiences.
Aimée holds a BA in Tourism Management from the University of Gloucestershire and is currently undertaking a MSc in Social Research.
RESEARCHER
Adam Bennet
Adam is a flexible researcher with experience across the full research cycle, combining quantitative expertise with strong qualitative skills. He’s confident with data and advanced analysis, using tools like SPSS and Snap Surveys, and he enjoys turning complex information into clear, actionable insights.
Adam’s technical expertise includes developing sophisticated data visualisations using Power BI, integrating multiple datasets to produce clear, interactive dashboards. He also leads on stakeholder and network mapping, using Kumu to analyse relationships and system dynamics in an accessible and insightful way.
Recognised as a reliable and trusted member of the team, Adam is known for delivering high quality work quickly and accurately. Calm, quietly confident, and great with people, he’s particularly strong in interview settings and maintaining strong communication throughout projects.
Adam holds an Integrated Masters in Psychology from the University of Plymouth.
Email — 01752 588951
Get in touch
We would love to hear from you and assist with any enquiries about how we can work together on future projects.
You can send us an email at sru@plymouth.ac.uk or fill in the form.
All of our team are contactable directly on the Team page.