Dr Helen Simpson, Reader in Economics in the School of Economics, Finance and Management, has been awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize. Around 30 such prizes are awarded annually to ‘outstanding scholars who have made a substantial and recognised contribution to their particular field of study’.

Dr Simpson has been awarded the £70,000 prize for her research using new data on firms, which examines the reasons behind firms’ location decisions and the impact of these decisions on their performance. Her work to date has examined the links between firms and universities and the importance of geographical co-location, the effects of foreign direct investment, and the role of competition in the product market on innovation and productivity growth. Her research evidence and advice is also frequently sought by policy-makers.