About us

The Knowledge Exchange is the first port of call for information and knowledge on public and social policy and practice. As the only service of its kind, it is valued by all those involved in creating, influencing, delivering or researching public and social policy.

For 40 years we've been saving our members time and money, and helping them to make more informed decisions, improve frontline services and understand the policy environment.

Subject coverage

The Knowledge Exchange is a unique source of information on public and social policy. Our team of Research Officers has subject expertise in over 30 policy areas, and can draw on our database of over 200,000 documents to answer our members' questions.

Our subject coverage includes:

  • Planning, development and property;
  • Housing;
  • Health and social care;
  • Economic development
  • Regeneration and community development;
  • Employment
  • Education and skills;
  • Environment;
  • Transport, infrastructure and communications;
  • Government and public administration;
  • Management and organisational development;
  • Equalities and diversity;
  • Arts, culture and leisure;
  • Crime, justice and rights;

We also cover cross-cutting policy issues including sustainability, value for money, information management, well-being, public engagement and evaluation.

Ask a Researcher service

All of our members can use our free Ask a Researcher service. We can help with literature searches and information queries online, over the phone or by email. We'll aim to have an answer for you within one working day. Submit an enquiry now.

Database

Search our database of over 200,000 reports and articles on public policy and practice, each with its own abstract written by our staff to give you a quick overview of its contents. The database covers documents from the 1980s onwards and is updated daily.

Our collection includes legislation and other official publications from the UK Government, trade and academic journal articles, research reports from think tanks and academic research institutions, statistics and case studies. Search now.

Document supply

Borrow books from our library or get full-text access to journal articles.

Latest additions

Keep up to date using our current awareness services, including:

  • Our weekly bulletin, highlighting the most useful new documents across a range of subjects.
  • Fortnightly updates, covering all the documents on the topics you are most interested in.
  • Personalised email alerts on any subject of your choosing.

History

We were established over thirty years ago as part of the Centre for Environmental Studies and became a separate charity in 1980 - under the name of the Planning Exchange. In 2002 the Planning Exchange sold its business operations to Idox plc - a company which provides information solutions to local and central government. Idox took on the staff of the Planning Exchange and invested in further development.

Now called The Knowledge Exchange, our team provides knowledge services to local authorities, public agencies, research consultancies and commercial organisations across the UK and beyond. The Knowledge Exchange is just one of our services. We also undertake consultancy projects and provide managed services - including internal information services to the Greater London Authority.

Contact details

The Knowledge Exchange
First Floor
The Grosvenor Building
72 Gordon Street
Glasgow
G1 3RS
03330111694
AskTheResearchTeam@idoxgroup.com