Tom Vickers

Dr. Tom Vickers is an Associate Professor in Sociology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), affiliated with the School of Social Sciences. He serves as Director of the GMB-NTU Work Futures Observatory and Co-Coordinator of the international Ecologies of Labour network. His academic career includes roles at Northumbria University and Durham University, where he conducted impactful research funded by the ESRC, British Academy, and others.

His research focuses on work, employment precarity, migration, asylum policies, and Marxist theory. Notable projects include studies on digital mediations in workplaces, gig economy labor, and the impact of immigration policies on marginalized groups. His work bridges academia and activism, advocating for social justice and informed policy-making.

Vickers has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Social Policy, Economic and Industrial Democracy, and Mobilities. He also contributes to non-academic platforms like The Conversation and collaborates with organizations such as GMB Union and the Hope Projects. His interdisciplinary approach emphasizes public sociology and community engagement.

• Education: PhD in Sociology from Durham University (2010), ESRC-funded.
• Grants: Over £3M in funding from ESRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and others.
• Supervision: Advised PhD topics on migration, labor, and social care.
• Awards: Fellow of the NIHR School for Social Care Research.

Vickers’ research often intersects with policy advocacy, such as evaluations of legal services for destitute asylum seekers and studies on platform economy workers’ rights. His work highlights systemic inequalities and proposes transformative strategies for equitable labor practices.