About

I am a Senior Researcher in Career Development at the International Centre for Guidance Studies at the University of Derby.

As part of my role I design and manage research projects primarily in the area of careers education, information, advice and guidance. I have collaborated with organisations such as the Careers & Enterprise Company, the Career Development Institute and the International Labour Organization.

My academic interests include sociology and education, with a focus on corporate social responsibility, employer engagement, school governance, volunteering and careers. I am also interested in the relationship between civil society and career development.

Recent publications

• Hanson, J., Blake, H., & Clark, L. (2024). Using community interaction theory to understand the effects of group mentoring on adolescents. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 26(1), 34-62.
• Neary, S., Blake, H., Lai, K. and Rose, P. (2024). Evaluation of Post 19 Benchmarks . Derby iCeGS, University of Derby. https://doi.org/10.48773/q855w
• Hooley, T., Blake, H. and Moreno da Fonseca, P. (2024). Handbook for career development: Introduction to the ILO framework for career development in low- and middle-income countries. Geneva International Labour Organization .
• Hooley, T. and Blake, H. (2024). A guide to work experience: Using the ILO's career development framework to support work experience in education and training in low- and middle-income countries . Geneva International Labour Organization .
• Hooley, T., Blake, H., Moreno da Fonseca, P. and Ribeiro, M. (2024). Developing a career development framework for low- and middle-income countries: Underpinning research for the ILO's career development framework. Geneva, Switzerland International Labour Organization
• Williams, J., Rosolin, B., Newton, B., Neary, S., Blake, H. and Rose, P. (2024). Effective Transitions Fund evaluation. London Careers and Enterprise Company
• Hanson, J., Blake, H. and Clark, L. (2024). Using community interaction theory to understand the effects of group mentoring on adolescents. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning. 24 (1), pp. 36-62. https://doi.org/10.5456/WPLL.26.1.34
• Blake, H., Kashefpakdel, E. and Hooley, T. (2023). Evaluation of The Careers & Enterprise Company’s teacher encounters programme. Derby International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby. https://doi.org/10.48773/q3158
• Blake, H. and Percy, C. (2022). Evaluation of the impact of the STEM Ambassadors programme upon STEM Ambassadors. STEM Learning Ltd.
• Blake, H; Hanson, J; Neary, S and Alexander, R (2022) SCiP Alliance Thriving Lives Toolkit Enhancement Project Report. University of Derby. 
• Blake, H., Hanson, J., & Clark, L. (2021). The importance of an inclusive alumni network for ensuring effective transitions into employment and future destinations for people with learning disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, pp. 1–11
• Hanson, J., Neary, S., and Blake, H. (2021). Personal Guidance Fund Evaluation: Final Report. London: The Careers & Enterprise Company

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow Higher Education Academy 

Professional interests

• Employer engagement 
• Third sector organisations and volunteers
• Governors and Governance 
• Impact and evaluation 

Qualifications

• 2020: PhD Sociology - Cardiff University
• 2015: MA (by Research) Sociology - University of York
• 2013: BA (Hons) Sociology - University of Hull

Recent conferences

Blake, H & Hanson, J (2021) ’A comparison of Welsh and English approaches to employer engagement in secondary schools: The importance of strategic collaboration.’ 6th International Conference on Employer Engagement: Preparing Young People for the Future – Education and Employers 

Teaching responsibilities

I am a module lead for the Independent Studies module on the MA in Careers Guidance and Development delivered by iCeGS. I am also a doctoral supervisor, supervising students in the areas of social entrepreneurship and social inclusion.