Jamie Evans

Jamie is a quantitative social researcher at the Personal Finance Research Centre. His research interests span a wide range of issues related to personal finance, including consumer vulnerability, financial inclusion and social inequalities.

Research on consumer vulnerability:

Jamie has recently produced a report based on a nationwide survey of debt advisers, looking at their experiences of working with clients in vulnerable situations (for example, those with mental health problems or addictions, and those at risk of taking their own life). The aim of the study was to produce evidence to inform national policy-making and to enable the development of new practical resources to support advisers in their work with clients in various vulnerable situations.

He has also recently been working on a paper for the Barrow Cadbury Trust, which explores how financial organisations could improve their use of data to support consumers in vulnerable situations.

Prior to this Jamie worked on a project commissioned by the Finance & Leasing Association and The UK Cards Association in which he explored the attitudes, experiences and practices of frontline debt collection staff when dealing with customers in vulnerable situations. This research was used to develop guidance for the debt collection industry, entitled 'Vulnerability: a guide for debt collection. 21 questions, 21 steps.'

Other research:

In addition to his work on consumer vulnerability, Jamie also conducts research on a range of other personal finance-related topics, including: the effect of financial support on students' academic and employment outcomes; the financial wellbeing of the UK population; current account switching; and the outcomes of debt advice.

Prior to joining PFRC in 2015, Jamie worked as a Research Assistant at the Community Development Foundation, part of the Community Investment Coalition, which campaigns for fair and affordable access to financial services for all.