The Third Sector Research Centre is an academic partnership, led by the Universities of Birmingham and Southampton, with Middlesex University leading on Social Enterprise, and contributions from the University of Kent on Theory and Policy The Third Sector Research Centre aims to enhance our knowledge of the sector through independent and critical research We have established an Advisory Board and Reference Groups, and hold regular events to discuss the implications of our research We work closely with practitioners and policy makers to gain input into our research and explore its findings We are also working to grow the sector's potential to use and conduct research, through capacity building clusters and collaborative research projects