Luke Bailey-Withers
Location: Manchester
Qualifications: BSc Economics
I joined SQW in September 2021 after graduating from Lancaster University with a degree in Economics. I began as a Research Consultant and have progressed to the role of Senior Consultant.
Since joining, I’ve worked across all three of SQW’s core propositions: Spatial Development; Health, Education, Employment, Skills and Social Care; and Innovation. This broad exposure has helped me build strong relationships across the company, deepen my understanding of our work, and identify the areas I find most rewarding.
As a Senior Consultant, I’ve started to specialise in local economic development, devolution, and place-based interventions. A recent highlight includes managing a project with the newly established York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. We supported them in assessing the region’s innovation activity and identifying how it can translate into economic opportunities for local businesses and residents.
I’m also an active member of SQW’s AI working group, which is exploring how AI tools can evolve how we conduct socio-economic research. Through this role, I’ve contributed to shaping our internal AI policy and shared ideas on how we can embed AI into our ways of working. It’s been a great opportunity to experiment with new approaches and help drive forward-thinking practices within the business.
What I appreciate most about SQW is its supportive and collaborative culture. My development has been consistently encouraged through formal training, peer learning, plus the guidance of mentors and line managers. This support has enabled me to grow both professionally and personally, equipping me to take on increasingly complex and impactful work.
