There is mounting pressure on health care professionals to undertake research. However, despite national and local directives, relatively little research is published within the paramedical professions. One reason for this may relate to the fact that changes in basic training have located the bulk of the research skills amongst the most newly qualified but potentially least influential staff. This pilot study examined the impact of developing research competencies in a group of middle managers, on the assumption that they might then influence and facilitate research productivity among junior staff. The study was largely unsuccessful as a result of numerous practical and attitudinal problems. Some suggestions are put forward for overcoming some of these difficulties and thus for increasing research output amongst the paramedical professions.