Services
At Empirica Research Consulting, we focus on building skills, confidence and sustainable approaches to capturing and using impact. Rather than simply doing research for organisations, we work with teams to strengthen their ability to design evaluations, collect meaningful data and learn from their work in ways that are ethical and practical. We do this through training, mentoring and coaching, alongside tailored support that fits your organisation’s context, capacity and priorities. When extra help is needed, we can also step in with hands-on support for analysis and writing—ensuring you’re never left stuck or unsupported.
Our pathway
Our training is designed for charities, community organisations and mission-led businesses who want practical, accessible ways to capture and evidence their impact. We offer in-person and online training sessions that build confidence and capability—without academic jargon or one-size-fits-all models. Sessions are grounded in real-world practice and designed to work with the time, resources and constraints organisations actually face.
​
Who the training is for?
Our training is particularly suited to:
-
Staff and volunteers involved in monitoring, evaluation or reporting
-
Project leads and managers delivering community-based programmes
-
Organisations new to evaluation or looking to strengthen existing approaches
-
Teams looking to improve reporting while staying true to their values
No prior research or evaluation background is required.
​​
Training topics
Training can be delivered as standalone workshops, short courses or a series of linked sessions. Content can be tailored to specific sectors, populations or funding requirements. Topics include:
-
Capturing impact by understanding what to measure, why it matters, and how to avoid over-collecting data.
-
Designing evaluations for community projects. Practical approaches to evaluating small-scale, place-based and relational work.
-
Qualitative methods that work in practice. Interviews, focus groups and creative methods that centre lived experience.
-
Ethical and inclusive evaluation. Working respectfully with communities, addressing power and participation.
-
Making sense of data. Turning qualitative and quantitative data into learning, insight and evidence.
-
Reporting and impact storytelling. Communicating impact clearly to funders, boards, partners and communities.​
How the training works
Training sessions are:
-
Interactive and participatory
-
Grounded in real examples from community and third sector settings
-
Focused on practical tools participants can immediately use
-
Adapted to your organisation’s context and capacity
We encourage teams to bring their own projects and challenges into the sessions wherever possible.
​
Outcomes
By the end of our training, participants typically:
-
Feel more confident designing and using evaluation approaches
-
Understand how to capture meaningful impact without overburdening staff or participants
-
Have practical tools they can adapt for their own projects
-
Are better equipped to meet funder and reporting requirements
Our coaching and mentoring offer provides tailored, ongoing support for individuals and organisations who want to strengthen their approach to impact and evaluation over time.
This is ideal for teams who have attended training, are leading evaluation work internally, or are navigating complex or sensitive projects and want a trusted thinking partner to work alongside them.
​
What we mean by coaching and mentoring
Coaching and mentoring with Empirica is:
-
Practical and reflective
-
Grounded in your real work and challenges
-
Focused on building confidence, not dependency
Rather than providing generic advice, we support you to think through decisions, develop skills and apply learning in ways that work for your organisation.
​
Who this is for?
Coaching and mentoring is particularly useful for:
-
Staff responsible for monitoring, evaluation or learning
-
Project leads managing multiple or complex programmes
-
Organisations developing new impact or evaluation frameworks
-
Individuals who feel unsure, overwhelmed or isolated in their role
Support can be provided to individuals or small teams.
​
How coaching & mentoring works
Support is tailored to your needs and may include:
-
Regular 1-to-1 or small group sessions (online or in person)
-
Support to plan and design evaluations
-
Reviewing tools, data and approaches together
-
Reflecting on ethical, practical and relational challenges
-
Building confidence in using and communicating evidence
Engagements typically run over a set period (e.g. 3–6 months), but can be adapted to suit your context.
​
What makes this different from consultancy
Unlike traditional consultancy models, our coaching and mentoring approach:
-
Builds internal skills and confidence
-
Encourages learning and reflection, not just delivery
-
Supports sustainable, long-term practice
-
Works alongside your team rather than taking over
When needed, we can also provide hands-on support with analysis or writing—but always in a way that complements capacity-building rather than replacing it.
​
Outcomes
Through coaching and mentoring, organisations often:
-
Develop clearer, more confident evaluation approaches
-
Feel better equipped to respond to funder and stakeholder expectations
-
Embed reflective and learning-focused practice
-
Reduce reliance on external consultants over time
Even with the right skills and intentions, there are moments when capturing and communicating impact feels difficult. Time pressures, staff changes, complex data or tight deadlines can make it hard to move forward.
Our When you are stuck support is designed for those moments—offering practical, flexible help to get things moving again, without taking ownership away from your organisation.
​
What this support is for?
This support is ideal when:
-
You have data but don’t know how to make sense of it
-
Reporting deadlines are approaching and capacity is limited
-
You feel unsure how to turn learning into clear messages
-
A project feels more complex or sensitive than expected
-
You need a second pair of eyes or experienced guidance
This offer sits alongside our training, coaching and mentoring—providing reassurance that support is available when needed.
​
How we can help
When you are stuck support may include:
-
Data analysis support
Making sense of qualitative or quantitative data in proportionate, ethical ways. -
Writing and reporting support
Helping draft, review or edit reports, impact summaries or learning outputs. -
Evaluation delivery support
Stepping in to support specific elements of an evaluation where capacity is limited. -
Grant and funding support
Strengthening impact narratives, theories of change and evidence sections.
How this works in practice
We work collaboratively and transparently, ensuring:
-
Your organisation remains central to the work
-
Learning is shared rather than hidden
-
Support complements existing skills and processes
Where appropriate, we use these moments to build confidence and understanding—so similar challenges feel more manageable in the future.
​
What makes this different from outsourcing
Unlike full outsourcing models, When You’re Stuck support:
-
Is flexible and time-limited
-
Focuses on enabling rather than replacing your team
-
Respects your organisation’s values, pace and capacity
Our aim is to support progress while strengthening internal confidence, not to create ongoing dependency.
​
Outcomes
Organisations often find that this support:
-
Reduces stress and uncertainty
-
Improves clarity and quality of reporting
-
Helps meet deadlines with confidence
-
Strengthens future practice and learning