Dr. Bekah Ryder (she/her)

Professional Profile

Bekah has 15 years of experience in research, with the last ten years focused on housing. Bekah works with large national data sets, creates and runs surveys, and is an expert at research interviews and group discussions. She also has experience with co-production, including helping children and young people advise on academic research. Through using different evidence sources, Bekah is good at making complicated topics easy to understand. 

Core Expertise

• Qualitative research and analysis – interviews, focus groups, consensus events 
• Quantitative research and analysis – surveys, secondary data analysis 
• Writing and communication – experienced at writing in-depth reports grounded in existing literature and policy, comment pieces and short summaries for non-specialist audiences 
• Project management 
• Policy – Bekah oversees Altair’s quarterly review of policy and operational changes in social housing 
• Public speaking – Bekah has presented on her research at national conferences, webinars and network group meetings 

Project Expertise

Project Name and Client: Voices of the Future – CIH Futures 

Date: 2025

Role on Project: First-ever research into young housing professionals’ aspirations and experiences of working in the sector, with recommendations for building a stronger future workforce. 

CIH Futures commissioned the research to amplify and champion young people’s experiences in housing, guide campaigns, and engage members more effectively. 

Bekah undertook the research (survey and focus groups), wrote the final report on findings, the presentation of findings for the launch webinar, and delivered project management, including overseeing a steering group of research sponsors. 

Project Name and Client: Still Waiting – Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Wheatley Group

Date: 2025

Role on Project: Bekah undertook recruitment, interviews, focus groups, a literature review and secondary data analysis to explore the impact of the wait for social housing on households waiting and staff managing demand. 

SFHA commissioned this research to engage with politicians on the need for long-term funding of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in Scotland. The research contributed to long-term funding being announced as part of the Scottish Budget in 2026. 

Project Name and Client: Estimating the need for supported housing to 2040 – National Housing Federation

Date: 2024

Role on Project: NHF commissioned this research to influence politicians on the need to fund supported housing in England. 

Bekah analysed secondary data on population, health, dwelling stock, housing support costs and building costs to estimate the need and costs of delivering enough supported housing to meet England’s demand to 2040. Bekah wrote up findings, alongside a literature review, in a published report, as well as comment pieces and presentations on the report.  

The report has been used as part of NHF’s ongoing campaign to increase understanding of the value of supported housing and adequate investment to maintain supply. 

Qualifications & Professional Memberships

• PhD social sciences – examining young people and community in new mixed tenure developments 
• MA in town planning 
• BA in Geography 
• Member of Housing Studies Association 
• Member of Social Research Association