Placement Host

Roots & Rigour CIC and AiAi Studios Ltd

By 11th March 2026 No Comments

This opportunity is for Postgraduate Researchers who began receiving Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) funding in or after Autumn 2024 to undertake a Research in Practice (RinP) placement as part of their studentship.

Key Host Information

About the Host

Roots & Rigour are a Black women–led research and learning organisation transforming how knowledge is created and used. We centre people who are usually left out, challenge extractive systems, and blend methodological rigour with creative, participatory approaches that help communities uncover insight and catalyse change.

AiAi Studios is a storytelling and production studio based in Leeds, UK, but working for clients globally such as Nike, GAY TIMES, gal-dem, Amazon, Channel 4 and Audible. We are a group of change-makers from the margins, who are all on the same assignment: to create boundary-breaking, truth-telling, culturally authentic podcasts, films and projects that turn up the volume on the ones who struggle to be heard.

Website

Visit Roots & Rigour CIC

Visit AiAi Studios Ltd

Type of Organisation
Private Sector, Third Sector, SME

Host Location
Leeds

Partnership Approach
We would love to host people who are passionate about our work, goal and mission, and excited by the opportunity to develop their experience and add what would be huge value to two local micro-businesses that centre research and voice in change work.

Equal Opportunities Statement
Available on request

EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THIS HOST

Placement Description

Ideal Start Date

Flexible

Placement Location

Hybrid

Mode of Placement

Part-time or Full-time

Relevant Pathway(s)

DCA, WHC

Types of Project

  • Advocacy work

  • Business, consulting and general management

  • Community support

  • Data management and analysis

  • Diversity, equality and fairness

  • Event management

  • Finance / funding

  • Media, journalism and publishing

  • Research and analysis

  • Stakeholder engagement

Further Project Details

We are in the early stages of building a research, knowledge and media ecosystem focused on taking applied community-based and driven approaches to research, and turning important insights into commercial quality.

We have a 13-year old media production company, AiAi Studios, a 1.5-year old community based research and learning organisation called Roots & Rigour, and an emerging media ecosystem and podcast platform called Rigour & Flow.

We can offer placements that would focus on business consulting, organisational development and funding, conducting research that underpins our creative content (for commercial clients, community partners, and our in-house podcast) and/or conducting research and literature reviews that will support our community partners in delivering their change-making work.

We have a new office in Sticks & Glass (Leeds City centre) with high end production facilities and are currently building out our podcast studio, which the researcher could also make use of.

We are open to co-designing a placement that suits the researcher and their skills, interests and research expertise.

Skills Required

Social research ideally, especially in relation to marginalised and minoritised communities – but we can be open and can offer a range of different placement types.

Media skills or interest – including social media or design – would also be an advantage.