commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government (Office of the First Minister) to investigate the impacts of a living wage policy in Wales (cited in the One Wales agenda).  Presented the emerging results to the Economic Research Advisory Panel (ERAP) including a number of labour market simulations with the final report due in 2010.

completed labour market dynamics research for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) for Northern Ireland on research commissioned following the Good Friday Agreement.  

led research on labour market dynamics outlining a series of econometric models and developed a number of short and medium terms scenarios for economic growth and labour market demand.  Subsequently completed a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) model for the OFMDFM to help inform policies tackling poverty.  

collaborated on a project to develop a series of workforce projections underpinned by a suite of policy scenarios (on behalf of the Scottish Social Services Council)

completed a major modelling assignment for the Singh Commission on cohesion and integration. The study investigated income, prosperity, community facilities and how some communities fared better than expected whilst others faced social unrest and community breakdown. The report was praised by the Commission for providing hard evidence (for the first time) of the value of small scale community facilities and recommended the findings be taken into account by the Quirk Review.

  led the technical and modelling work for the Regional Impact work stream of the Severn Tidal Power project on behalf of DECC, Welsh Assembly Government and SWRDA. He presented emerging results from the Severn Tidal Power project to the Economic Research Advisory Panel (ERAP)

led the production of a toolkit linking economic development with wider environmental and social indicators in the form an Experimental Environmental Satellite Account (ESA) for the Welsh Assembly Government.

undertook a review of Scotland’s largest biomass plant, was involved in an assessment of the low carbon economy in the East Midlands for EMDA and completed an assessment of carbon emissions associated with inward investment on behalf of the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA)

 undertook an appraisal work of a £100 million investment, i.e. the Digital Region project, led by Yorkshire Forward.  The project is being delivered by consortium led by Thales an international telecommunications company).  Richard provided a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to European Commission and subsequent project appraisal to the Industrial Development Advisory Board (IDAB) of BERR.  The project was approved by the European Commission, BERR and HM Treasury (announced by the Chancellor in the 2009 budget).  

invited to present the benefits of next generation networks at the NextGen '09 conference where the keynote speaker was the Minister for Digital Britain.  He recently led an evaluation of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics commercialisation activities on behalf of Scottish Enterprise.

currently acting as an expert advisor to the European Policy Centre on a major research study on digital Europe sponsored by several international ICT companies and European states.  

led strategy and research in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for clients across several key city regions including Think London, the Partnership for New York City, a review of business support provided to foreign companies across Edinburgh and in 2009 was commissioned to review the benefits of inward investment in six city regions of the North West on behalf of the Northwest Development Agency.

worked with international real estate company DTZ for seven years and developed economic and labour market models (and forecasts) for a number of middle east states including Bahrain (working with SOM architects on a master plan for Bahrain), Qatar (working for Qatar National Bank) and Ajman (working with Hyder Consulting on a master plan for Ajman).

led a review of the West Edinburgh International Business Gateway on behalf of the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the City of Edinburgh Council. This led to a change in the development conditions placed on the International Business Gateway in the West Edinburgh Planning Framework.

appraised a £30 million investment supported by Scottish Enterprise the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) providing support at all stages of the gateway approval process. He also advised East Lothian Council last year on a golf and leisure development eventually leading to approval.

advised Sirius Sports on the UK’s largest proposed Greyhound stadium.

advised the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in the West of Edinburgh’s planning hearing where he acted as an expert witness and following the hearing helped secure approval for housing development in Edinburgh’s green belt.