Tom Simcock

PhD opportunity at the University of Huddersfield on Housing, Workforce Stability and Public Service Resilience: The Role of Housing Affordability in Key Worker Recruitment, Retention and Wellbeing . This project examines how housing affordability and local housing supply affect key workers across sectors such as healthcare, fire and rescue, policing, and social care. The research asks how housing markets and the operational geographies of public services interact to shape access to suitable housing, commuting patterns, work-life balance, recruitment, retention, productivity, wellbeing, and the sustainability of essential public services. The project uses a mixed-methods design, combining analysis of housing and workforce data with qualitative research on the lived experiences of key workers. There are also opportunities to engage with policy stakeholders, public service organisations, and housing providers, making the work highly relevant to real-world policy and service delivery. Relevant academic interests include housing affordability , urban studies , public policy , public health , labour markets , social inequalities , and the future resilience of essential public services. Funding: fee waiver scholarship; tuition fees are covered. No stipend amount is stated. Deadline: Friday 19 June 2026. Contact: subject-specific enquiries to Dillon Newton at [email protected].