Social Policy Futures
Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th July, 2024
University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow
*Conference Registration is open – register here*
In 2024, the Social Policy Association conference will be hosted by the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, from Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th July.
This year, the organisers of the Social Policy Association Annual Conference invite presentations and symposia which engage with the idea of social policy futures. Social policy research has always been concerned with improving our understanding current and past welfare states, to work towards more socially just futures. Automation and new digital technologies in public services and social protection are often associated with the expansion of state surveillance, control of populations and the dehumanising of social support. Predictive tools and AI-based solutions seem to squeeze the possibility for agency. And yet the promise of imagining better futures is also present in new technologies and in the work of activists, communities, and engaged social policy research.
While welcoming social policy research across all topics and contexts, we encourage engagement with how social policy research can contribute to both understanding, and shaping, better futures.
The conference will be hosted in Glasgow’s vibrant city centre, in easy walking distance from all Scotland’s largest city has to offer.
Keynotes
Professor Catherine Needham: ‘Delivery, drift or decay? What has devolution done for adult social care in the UK’s four nations?’
Baron Prem Sikka: ‘Paying for the welfare state: A view from the House of Lords’
Plenary – Fair Work and Employment Futures: Challenges for Social Policy
Professor Vanessa Beck, Professor of Employment Studies, University of Bristol
Professor Heejung Chung, Professor of Work and Employment, King’s College London
Dr Anne Daguerre, Reader in Social Justice, University of Brighton
Professor Patricia Findlay, Professor of Employment Relations, University of Strathclyde
Chaired by: Dr Katy Jones, Reader in Employment, Manchester Metropolitan University
Conference Information
Conference FAQs: information about each aspect of the conference can be read here.
Conference Timings: the conference will begin with lunch at 12.30 on Wednesday 3rd July. The final session will end at 1pm on Friday, with lunch served thereafter. On Wednesday and Thursday sessions will finish at 5pm (SPA AGM finishing at 6.30 on Wednesday).
Accessibility: access to Glasgow by road, rail and air is easy and fast. The conference venue and all social programme events are within a short walking distance of Queen Street and Central train stations.
Venue: the Technology and Innovation Centre is Strathclyde’s flagship conference and events venue. Plenaries, parallel sessions, exhibition space and catering will all be provided under one roof, with spacious foyers for easy networking.
Accommodation: This year, conference accommodation is not being provided as part of SPA Conference registration. Glasgow has a wide range of accommodation for all budgets that is within walking distance of the TIC conference venue or is easily accessible by public transport. See Conference FAQs for details of booking negotiated rates via the Glasgow Convention Bureau (GCB) or direct booking with other accommodation providers. The accommodation booking link is here.
Conference Receptions & Dinner: on Thursday 4th conference attendees are invited to a civic reception hosted by the Lord Provost and Glasgow City Council, and conference dinner at the historic City Chambers.
On Wednesday 3rd attendees will have the option of buying a ticket for a traditional ceilidh in a city centre venue, with relaxed buffet dinner included in the ticket price.
Please read our conference venue access statement here. In particular, we wish to note that there is no step free access to the ceilidh venue. There is one flight of steps with a handrail with no lift or elevator access. The main room for the ceilidh does not have an induction loop, and there are no accessible toilets
PGR/ECR Events: in addition to the main SPA conference there will also be a dedicated PG/ECR social event on the evening of the 2nd July, and a networking and careers related workshop on the morning of the 3rd July. See here for further details and to sign up.
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Call for Abstracts: now closed.
Registration: registration is open – register here.*
*Before registering, you can consult our venue access statement for information.
The early bird rate closed on 3rd May 2024.
Queries should be emailed to: conference2024@social-policy.org.uk.
Conference Fees
| SPA Members | |
| Early bird. Full conference including conference dinner | £325 |
| Full conference including conference dinner | £365 |
| Day delegate Wednesday | £245 |
| Day delegate Thursday with conference dinner | £345 |
| Day delegate Thursday without conference dinner | £255 |
| Day delegate Friday | £245 |
| SPA postgraduate researcher Members | |
| Early bird. Full conference including conference dinner | £240 |
| Full conference including conference dinner | £260 |
| Non-members | |
| Early bird. Full conference including conference dinner | £465 |
| Full conference including conference dinner | £505 |
| Day delegate Wednesday | £385 |
| Day delegate Thursday including conference dinner | £485 |
| Day delegate Thursday without conference dinner | £395 |
| Day delegate Friday | £385 |
- Tickets for Wednesday night’s ceilidh with buffet dinner will be available through the registration portal, priced at £35 per person.