NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility: Birmingham Culture Statement

Introduction

Our culture statement reinforces our commitment to supporting an inclusive research community, grounded in collaboration, care, communication and creativity.

It was developed collaboratively through ‘Culture Cafes’ with contributors from across:

• NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Birmingham
• NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Birmingham
• University of Birmingham
• University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• Keele University
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Hospital Trust
• public involvement groups

Vision   

To create an inclusive research culture where our values and behaviours foster a positive environment for all. This will lead to better science, improved career development for our researchers and enhanced health outcomes for our diverse population.

Mission statement

We are committed to supporting our research community – which includes our workforce, partners, research participants, patients and public – who are all integral to our success in achieving greater health outcomes, treatments and discoveries.  

We strive to recognise excellence, nurture innovation and promote equity that will empower all to thrive, while driving a sustainable research future. 

Our research culture principles

The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Biomedical Research Centre: Birmingham and Clinical Research Facility have developed the 4 C’s Principles – Collaboration, Care, Communication and Creativity. 

Collaboration 

We believe collaboration and collegiality are fundamental to driving the best science at pace. Our research community are all key to our success. Our collective responsibility approach to research enables the creation and maintenance of long-term collaborative relationships which lead to high quality validated outputs and successful outcomes.

We share learning and knowledge nationally, as we understand that we can achieve more when we work together. By actively listening to the diverse expertise and perspectives of our research community, we shape insights into collaborative action that promote co-creation of ideas, positive engagement, greater problem solving and resilience.

We facilitate joint projects and collaboration between our research themes, partners and external organisations for greater impact.

Our Research Inclusion and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) initiatives evidence our commitment to collaborative processes. We celebrate cohesive approaches to ensure all diverse voices are heard, valued and included. These are essential for creating positive and safe environments that nurture our strong relationships.

Care

We recognise that people are at the heart of our activities and it is essential to provide relevant support, mentoring, guidance and opportunities for a sustainable research culture. 

Our NIHR Academic Capacity Development team provides tailored opportunities, mentoring and training to support inclusive career progression and development for all.

In addition, we provide relevant training opportunities through our Research Inclusion and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) resources.

Health and Wellbeing are integral to cultivating a positive culture, and we encourage a balanced approach to work by providing flexibility and promoting a healthy work-life balance. We promote Health and Wellbeing services to ensure individuals have the necessary support if they require it. 

We value representation, demonstrated through our commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive research community. By acknowledging the different backgrounds of all individuals involved in our research, we promote fairness and equity throughout, ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities and participation.

We actively work to challenge biases and barriers that people may face by continuing to learn and develop our initiatives supporting those that are underrepresented. Our Research Inclusion Strategy evidences our determination to foster inclusion.

Communication 

We acknowledge that communication is key to our success recognising that openness and transparency are essential to develop trust within our research community. This is evidenced through our commitment to embedding integrity and ethical standards across all our practices. We ensure information on learning, methods, data and change are communicated widely and accessibly in a timely manner. 

Feedback is welcomed by providing the mechanisms to facilitate this through governance, working groups, external boards, focus groups, roundtables and regular meetings. 

Clear communication through multiple and accessible routes is imperative to maintain accountability for our actions. We understand the responsibility and trust placed on us by our research community. We remain dedicated to upholding these values throughout all our activities. 

We continue to improve our channels of communication by adopting best practices and ensuring our messages are clear and relevant. We have a variety of routes to provide updates through newsletters, noticeboards, online channels, staff networks and forums. These methods help facilitate two-way communication, allowing all voices to be heard.

Creativity 

Fostering creativity is fundamental in advancing our research. Freedom to explore innovation and facilitating the right environment for ideas to flourish are core to our standards. Providing the required resources, support, processes and information are key to develop these ideas. 

Our commitment is to empower everyone involved in our work to feel inspired, drive forward thinking and contribute to creative solutions.

Through a culture of creativity and innovation, we foster research that translates into meaningful impact for the people of our region and beyond. 

Through our collective commitment to Collaboration, Care, Communication and Creativity, we are building a thriving and sustainable research culture that exemplifies excellence, inclusivity, and innovation for the benefit of all.