Smith is a multidisciplinary academic with experience in teaching and conducting mixed-methods research, most recently at the University of Sheffield. She has worked on high-impact projects in partnership with public sector organisations, including police forces and the NHS trusts.

Buckley’s career began in the media, where he produced a range of programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. He later moved into communications, holding senior roles at organisations including Prostate Cancer UK, Natural England and Causeway. He is also the founder of PR and talent agency People of Prominence.

The agency aims to ‘bridge the gap’ between research and accessible communications, working with clients including academic institutions, research organisations, non-profits and professional services companies. It recently completed a project for Lloyds Bank Foundation.

Creative Smart’s services include content creation, media production, social media strategies and consultancy.

Rivka Smith, co-founder and joint managing director, said: “With nearly 15 years in academia, I’ve seen how challenging it can be to make research accessible. Creative Smarts is a sector-merging venture that lets us bridge the gap between rigorous research and creative communication – turning complex findings into engaging content like infographics, videos, podcasts, webinars and campaigns.”

Co-founder and joint managing director Edwin Buckley added that the business wants to “transform intricate findings into compelling content that engages and drives action” and “make research resonate with people beyond the academic sphere”.

Pictured: Edwin Buckley and Dr Rivka Smith (photo credit: Elspeth Moore)