In 1954 – at the very late age of 57 – he at last gained his first secure academic post, at University College Leicester (which soon became the University of Leicester), first as Lecturer and later as Reader in Sociology.
Pada tahun 1954, di akhir usianya yang ke-57, dia akhirnya mendapatkan jabatan akademis pertamanya, di Universitas Leicester (yang segera menjadi Universitas Leicester), pertama sebagai dosen dan kemudian sebagai sosiolog.