Magdalene Fellow Wins Prestigious Award for Groundbreaking Research on the Four-Day Work Week

We are delighted to share that Magdalene Fellow, Professor Brendan Burchell (1990), and his research group have been awarded the Outstanding Business and Enterprise Impact prize at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Celebrating Impact Prize awards. The prestigious event, held at the Royal Society in London, honours researchers whose work has achieved exceptional societal and economic influence.

Professor Burchell led the Digit Working Time Reduction team, whose research explored the UK's largest trial of the four-day working week. The team uncovered compelling evidence of benefits for both employees and employers, offering practical insights into how organisations can successfully implement reduced working hours. Their findings have already inspired companies to adopt the model, further amplifying the impact of this transformative work.

The research team included Bye-Fellow for 2023-24 and PhD candidate in Sociology, Ms Niamh Bridson Hubbard (2016), and Magdalene Visiting Fellow, Dr Emma Hughes (2024), reflecting the College’s vibrant academic community and its contribution to tackling key challenges in society.

The award comes with a £10,000 prize, which will be used to enhance public engagement and further disseminate the research findings.

The College wishes to congratulate Professor Burchell and his team on this remarkable achievement, which showcases the innovative research and collaboration that make Magdalene and Cambridge a hub of academic excellence.

Read more on the UK Research and Innovation site.