M·E·L Research Further Expands Qual and Evaluation Teams
M·E·L Research is pleased to announce the addition of three talented individuals to our team: Emily Preston-Jones as Senior Evaluation Manager, Sophie King as Senior Research Executive, and Richard Newman as Research Executive. Each brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to our growing company, strengthening our capacity to deliver high-quality research and evaluation services.
Emily (top right), Sophie (top left) and Richard (bottom)
Emily Preston-Jones, Senior Evaluation Manager
Emily Preston-Jones joined M·E·L Research in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in programme evaluation and social research. As a Senior Evaluation Manager, Emily specialises in critical areas such as youth employment, the care system, poverty and disadvantage, and the aging population. Passionate about integrating participatory design into research, Emily is committed to advancing M·E·L’s empowerment-focused and trauma-informed approaches to evaluation.
Before joining M·E·L, Emily served as Evaluation Lead at the charity Frontline, where she was instrumental in the design and implementation of evaluation activities for England’s largest government-funded training programme for social workers. Her responsibilities included managing data collection, developing the programme’s theory of change and evaluation framework, and providing critical insights to key stakeholders, including in the education sector for the likes of the Department for Education. Emily also brings valuable commissioning experience from her time at the What Works Centre, Youth Futures Foundation, where she managed evaluations of youth employment programmes, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Emily’s career is distinguished by her robust evaluation skills, personable stakeholder management, and unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her ability to turn complex data into actionable insights for diverse audiences makes her a valuable asset to M·E·L Research.
Emily Preston-Jones commented on her new role:
“Joining the evaluation team at M·E·L feels like a perfect combination of my prior roles and professional interests. The empowerment approach and dedication to inclusive research that the team focuses on aligns strongly with my values, especially that of maintaining a consistent and conscious approach to embedding equity, diversity and inclusion into all aspects of my work. Having followed the organisation for a number of years and watching the evaluation team grow, I feel incredibly happy to be working here now, alongside immeasurably supportive and knowledgeable colleagues.”
Sophie King, Senior Research Executive
Sophie King brings over seven years of freelance experience in market research and copywriting to her role as a Senior Research Executive at M·E·L Research. Sophie has worked across various sectors, including healthcare, retail, and the museums/culture sector, employing mixed methods to deliver insightful and impactful research outcomes. Her experience in healthcare includes projects for Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, and Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Sophie has also conducted research for educational institutions, local councils, and law enforcement agencies, contributing significantly to public awareness and understanding.
In the cultural sector, Sophie has conducted significant research for institutions such as the Museum of Liverpool and the International Slavery Museum. Her work focused on understanding the impact of exhibitions on audiences, including marginalised communities, and enhancing public engagement. Sophie’s expertise in qualitative research methods has been instrumental in capturing the diverse perspectives of museum visitors, ensuring that cultural experiences are accessible, relevant, and engaging to all audiences.
Sophie’s strong background in youth work and children’s theatre has equipped her with the skills to engage with children and young people on sensitive topics, such as home life, bullying, and mental health. This experience, combined with her research skills, makes Sophie a valuable addition to M·E·L Research’s team, particularly in projects requiring sensitive and empathetic engagement.
Richard Newman, Research Executive
Richard Newman, who has been with M·E·L Research since 2018, transitions into the role of Research Executive. Richard’s key responsibilities include delivering quantitative and qualitative project support, conducting interviews, facilitating ripple effect mapping workshops, and providing comprehensive analysis. His work spans a wide range of societal issues, including poverty, health and wellbeing, mobility, infrastructure, and the environment.
With over ten years of experience in broadcasting, editorial, and social media, Richard brings strong interpersonal and communication skills to his role. His background in radio and television further reflects his passion for engaging with people.
Karen Etheridge, Managing Director of M·E·L Research, welcomed the new team members:
“We are thrilled to welcome Emily and Sophie to M·E·L Research and to promote Richard internally. It is brilliant to see the development of individuals with internal M·E·L experience, as well as adding those joining us from client-side and agency backgrounds. This melting pot of experience and perspectives, combined with sector knowledge they bring aligns perfectly with M·E·L’s values – enhancing our ability to deliver insightful, impactful, and inclusive research for our clients.”
Emily, Sophie and Richard are the latest in a series of hires across different levels as the agency continues to strengthen its position as a leader in market and social research and evaluation committed to delivering excellence and innovation in every project.
“We have seen really strong growth in our core sectors this financial year as well as continuing to build expertise in other areas, adding new methodologies and benefitting from the expertise across our growing team. We will be further adding to the team in the coming weeks and months to allow us to continue to deliver for our existing and new clients moving forward.”
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