Impact and our social mission

From Policy Press’s inception as a social policy publisher - ‘publishing research to influence policy’ - the influence and impact of our work beyond the scholarly sphere has been at our core. As Bristol University Press has grown, this social mission remains one of our pillars and the goal is now to build on our demonstrable history in this area. 

Right from the very beginning, Bristol University Press and Policy Press have worked closely with authors to ensure their work gains the impact it deserves.

The longevity of our social mission makes us stand out from other publishers and is one of the key reasons authors and editors choose to work with us. We believe that achieving impact for the public good is the whole point of social science research and work closely with authors to achieve this. 

Impact is about more than just traditional metrics. An author’s work should shift understanding of policy and practice or teaching, reframe debates and change communities and organisations for the better. We don’t just want people to read our content but to really engage with it – intellectually, emotionally and practically.

We can advise you on maximising impact to the intended audience right from your initial inquiry or submission through the complete life of the publication. Find out what we do as your publisher and browse our impact case studies.