Role
Jo is Associate Dean Research for Nottingham Business School and Professor of Housing & Social Inclusion. She champions research in all activities in the School, supporting colleagues from postgraduate research student to professor, and working with researchers to amplify societal impact and enrichment of the student experience.
Jo’s own research focuses on the public sector, in particular social housing and homelessness. Her work to date has been funded by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and a variety of public sector, industry and charity organisations. Prior to her academic career, Jo worked in the social housing sector – this has fuelled her co-production approach to applied research for social benefit.
Professor Richardson is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce (RSA), a member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools Research Committee, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Career overview
Prior to joining NTU, Jo worked at De Montfort University for the Faculty of Business and Law – most recently in the role of Associate Dean Research, and prior to that as Director of the Centre for Comparative Housing Research and various lecturing positions in the housing studies discipline, gaining her Chair in 2014.
Jo’s academic career began in the year 2000, before which she worked for a national professional body (the Chartered Institute of Housing), a housing association and a local authority. Her professional practice background continues to inform her approach to applied research to this day.
Research areas
Professor Richardson’s research explores critical perspectives of social housing management and new approaches to resolving and preventing all forms of homelessness. Her work over the last 20 years has also analysed planning for and management of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the UK.
Jo has written a variety of work published in academic journals, books, book chapters, technical reports and online articles.
External activity
Professor Richardson is a member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools Research Committee. She is also a Trustee of the global charity World Habitat.
Press expertise
Social housing (council and housing association housing), homelessness, Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.
Jo has shared her research ideas in a variety of TV, radio and press publications, including for The Conversation.
