I was delighted to join colleagues at Queen Mary University of London’s Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing to share the story of NICHE-Leeds – a care and science partnership that has reshaped how we think about research collaboration in our sector.

The event, held on 26 February 2026, brought together care providers and researchers from across north east London who were keen to understand what makes our Leeds model successful and how it might be replicated elsewhere. It was a pleasure to speak alongside Professor Karen Spilsbury from the University of Leeds, who has been central to the development of NICHE-Leeds.

How the partnership began

My own involvement goes back to 2017, when I attended an event at the University of Leeds focused on strengthening collaboration between care organisations and academic partners. At that time, I was inspired by a keynote speaker – Professor Jan Hamers from Maastricht University – who showcased the impressive work coming out of care homes involved in a ‘living lab’ model.

That presentation raised a simple but important question: could we build something similar in Leeds?

I knew immediately that we could, and that we should. What followed was the beginning of NICHE-Leeds, established in 2018 and grown today into a strong partnership between care providers, universities, and the wider Leeds health and care community.

Why the care sector needs this model

From my perspective as Managing Director of Westward Care, the value of NICHE-Leeds lies in its ability to make research meaningful, practical and grounded in the real world of care. Too often, research and frontline practice operate in parallel worlds. NICHE-Leeds brings them together.

What makes this partnership different is its commitment to true participation. Care home staff work side by side with academics as equal partners – shaping research questions, identifying priorities, and contributing directly to the knowledge that emerges. This is not research done to care homes; it is research done with and for them.

This approach strengthens professional confidence, grows skills and demonstrates respect for the expertise that already exists within our workforce. It also helps us tackle sector‑wide challenges. We have seen, for example, how involvement in research boosts staff morale, supports recruitment and raises the profile of the high‑quality work happening in care homes every day.

Building a stronger future for social care

For me, NICHE-Leeds is part of a much bigger mission: the professionalisation of the social care workforce. If we want a confident, skilled, future‑ready sector, then research must be embedded in everyday practice – not as an add‑on, but as part of our core identity.

At the same time, I emphasised during the event that rapid expansion of models like ours is not the answer. Growth needs to be thoughtful and sustainable. Partnerships should be built on shared learning, mutual respect and high‑quality science, not a rush to replicate without understanding what makes the model work.

A long‑term commitment

NICHE-Leeds isn’t just a project. It’s a commitment to better care, empowered staff and a stronger future for the sector.

That commitment is why Westward Care continues to invest in the partnership and why I believe so strongly in its potential – not just for Leeds, but for the national future of social care.

– Peter Hodkinson, Managing Director


NICHE-Leeds is a partnership between care organisations and universities in Leeds. Partners include Westward Care, Springfield Healthcare, HC-One and the University of Leeds, with Leeds Care Association, Leeds Beckett University and Leeds City Council. You can learn more about NICHE-Leeds here.