Magdalene Fellow Shortlisted for Prestigious Research Prize

Professor Brendan Burchell shortlisted for the ESRC Impact Prize 2024.

Professor Brendan Burchell (1990), Magdalene Fellow and Professor of the Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Celebrating Impact Prize 2024. He and his colleague, Dr David Frayne from the University of Salford, are recognised for their groundbreaking research on improving productivity and staff wellbeing through the introduction of a four-day working week.

The research over the last few years, which included being involved in the world’s largest trial of a four-day working week, examined the effects of reduced working hours on productivity and employee wellbeing. Despite the advances in technology over the last century, many people still work similar hours to those from 100 years ago. The project’s findings have led participating companies to maintain the four-day work model, inspiring other businesses and organisations to adopt similar practices.

Making the case for a four-day working week | ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize 2024 

The ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize, now in its 12th year, acknowledges the extraordinary societal and economic contributions of ESRC-funded research. It highlights work that has made significant strides in transforming policy, practice, and the everyday lives of people across the UK and beyond.

Professor Burchell and Dr Frayne’s project is shortlisted in the Outstanding Business and Enterprise Impact category. The winners, who will receive a £10,000 prize to support further research and engagement activities, will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 20 November 2024.

Magdalene College congratulates Professor Burchell on this remarkable achievement and wishes him the best of luck at the awards ceremony.