Writing training & coaching

Training researchers to write clearly

My training aims to give researchers confidence in writing clearly to communicate more effectively through tried and tested learning methods. This includes active learning, taught content, reflection, and lots of practise.

This approach helps people to develop their writing skills and confidence to a professional standard for their work or study sector in a way that far outlasts the training.

If this is of interest to you, your team, or your organisation, please get in touch to discuss your needs.

  • Academics, postdoc researchers, PhD students, and Masters/undergraduate students.

    Training programmes are delivered jointly with Dr Elaine Massung (former EPSRC portfolio manager) of Academic Smartcuts.

    Programmes for postdocs and academics include research idea generation, and writing competitive grants, high-impact papers, and 100-word REF statements (UK)

    Academic Writing from the Ground Up helps PhD student cohorts (e.g. CDTs & DTPs) to develop the necessary writing skills to flourish as a researcher, including how to approach thesis writing.

    See further information here.

  • Written outputs such as reports or blogs often have multiple aims, including updating funders and managers about progress, keeping colleagues informed of activity, and shouting to the world about the outcomes or progress of a research project, policy development, or project delivery.

    Training programmes for third sector organisations focus on developing writing that produces communicates clearly with your audiences.

  • Clear, concise internal reporting creates reliable and efficient project progress, and keeps your wider team informed of activity. Reporting your R&D outcomes to the external world in an engaging manner will build your organisation’s reputation for competence and excellence.

    Training programmes develop the writing skills of you and your team for communicating technical information inside and outside your organisation.

  • Clear messaging of analysis, policy, or research is essential to them having impact in government.

    Training in government report writing focusses on how to communicate your ideas and outcomes to your audience in an effective and concise manner.

Types of training

I train people to plan and produce research writing that communicates clearly to their audience.

My training involves some teaching, to establish the framework of good writing, and coaching, to help participants produce authentic and engaging writing.

Training can be delivered online or face-to-face in the UK.

  • Group or one-to-one training

  • Programmes built around your needs

  • ‘Couch to £500k’ research grant and fellowship programme

  • ‘Writing from the Ground Up’ programme for PhD cohorts and CDTs

  • Active learning: lots of exercises, discussion, and feedback

  • Project proposals, reports, research papers, research chapters, thesis/dissertation writing

  • Pre-submission reviews of papers and grant proposals also undertaken

Working with staff and students from:

Meet your trainer

Nice to meet you. My name is Professor Dan Allwood and I help train people to write and communicate their ideas.

I bring over 17 years’ experience as an academic at a UK Russell Group university, leading science and engineering research activities, working with industry, supervising students, and teaching skills development. More recently, I have delivered training programmes to researchers in third-sector organisations that seek to bring change to government social policy.

I love working with people and seeing them develop their skills and understanding. It’s fantastic to see the difference this makes not just to their technical ability but also their self-confidence and how this changes their approach to their work.

Benefits of training

The active learning approach helps participants to use what they learn in their work or study immediately and for the long term.

This leaves them more engaged and more confident in progressing their work. Line managers & supervisors can then enjoy having a more motivated team!

What others say

Others have enjoyed being part of writing training courses with me.

Click below to see their thoughts.