"Mixed tenure is a new way of working for private developers, housing associations and the various government agencies involved." A new guest article on Pivotal Platform from Mark Graham of Co-Ownership. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

As part of Imagine join Ann Watt @pivotalpolicy.bsky.social Jodie Carson @ulsteruni.bsky.social & Suzanne Breen @belfasttelegraph.co.uk sluggerotoole.com/2026/02/23/s...

What are the challenges facing the NI Executive in managing its budget? Pivotal has provided oral and written evidence to the NI Assembly Finance Committee about the proposed draft multi-year budget. Read our evidence and view a clip here pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

"NI’s woodland creation targets are ambitious, necessary and publicly supported, but they will remain aspirational without the structural changes required to deliver them." John Martin of the Woodland Trust is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"When policymakers and organisations engage directly with carers, through conversations, workshops, or storytelling, the picture becomes richer, more honest, and more grounded in reality" A new guest article for Pivotal Platform, this week from Ellie Goff. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Read Pivotal's analysis of the Department of Education's five-year budget strategy here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/five-y...

NEW Pivotal tracker report reviews two years of the restored Northern Ireland Executive Read the report here www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

Look out tomorrow morning for Pivotal's new tracker report reviewing the two years since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in February 2024.

Last night our PLDP cohort heard from Suzanne Wylie from NI Chamber about the challenges and opportunities in local government and business, and from our senior researcher James about research skills and research ethics. An enjoyable and engaging session all round!

"For too long our homelessness response has been focused almost entirely downstream, rescuing people once they are already in crisis." A new guest article for Pivotal Platform, by Cathy Brolly from the Simon Community. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"People with MS want to work. Many already do. Many more could continue working for longer with the right support." Naomi McBurney, of the MS Society in Northern Ireland (@mssocietyuk.bsky.social), is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Last night we held the first session of our second PLDP cohort! We discussed the fundamentals of politics and policy in Northern Ireland as well as the topics and issues that inspire them. It is great to be back with a whole new group of dedicated young policy leaders.

Ann Watt writes about the proposed draft multi-year budget in today's Belfast Telegraph - "an opportunity that cannot be missed" www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news...

Today the Finance Minister will make an oral statement in the Assembly about his proposed draft multi-year Budget. You can read Pivotal's initial analysis of the proposed draft Budget here linkedin.com/pulse/propos... Some areas where it would be good to know more ⬇️ 1/3

"Any policy response that treats online harm as generic will fail to grasp the mechanisms that make it so dangerous for women of faith." This week's guest blog on Pivotal Platform is by Mischa Gerrard, a member of the Faith & VAWG Coalition. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

NEW Pivotal Briefing looks at the challenges and opportunities facing the Northern Ireland Executive as it considers its upcoming multi-year budget Read the Briefing here pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

👀New Pivotal Briefing on Northern Ireland's multi-year budget coming out on Monday

Joan McEwan from @mariecurieuk.bsky.social in Northern Ireland is today's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform. Discussing the approach needed to ensure "high-quality, integrated palliative care is delivered where and when patients need it most." www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Pivotal's response to the UK Budget. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

On World Children's Day, a new guest blog on Pivotal Platform from the NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, @nichildcom.bsky.social, Chris Quinn. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

A new Pivotal report, 'Voluntary and community sector-led approaches to economic inactivity', commissioned by @NICVA has been launched at Stormont. Details and a link to the full report here - www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

"It’s now time to work together and ensure that NI sets the standard when it comes to protecting workers from the impact of extreme weather events." Susan Fitzgerald, Regional Secretary of @unitetheunion.bsky.social, guest writes for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"Arthritis has a massive impact on society and is a leading cause of pain, disability, mental ill-health and inability to work." John McCormick of @arthritisuk.bsky.social is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"Focusing too much on what’s happening at the frontier distracts from more meaningful questions for most organisations." Donnacha Kirk, of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"The animal welfare sector is unified on and ready for much needed change to be breathed in to outdated and insufficient legislation." Laura Orr of @dogstrust.bsky.social is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"When digital spaces become unsafe, people can lose anchors that supports their wellbeing. The impact does not stop when the screen turns off." Dr Zhraa Alhaboby, from the @openuniversity.bsky.social, is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Very much looking forward to speaking to Ann and @pivotalpolicy.bsky.social network about my book ‘The Art of Delivery’ and to consider lessons for Northern Ireland Do sign up below, if this is of interest👇 🗓️ 21 Oct, 2.00-3.00pm online

Pivotal's Director Ann Watt considers lessons for Northern Ireland from Dr Michelle Clement's book 'The Art of Delivery'. We are delighted to be hosting a webinar with Michelle (@mlclem.bsky.social) on 21 October, details below. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"A mix of expectation, frustration and partial delivery has defined the story of football infrastructure in Northern Ireland." Aaron Vennard is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"Employers want apprentices but face systemic hurdles, and young people want apprenticeships but encounter fragmented and confusing routes." Richard Kirk, from Workplus, is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"PE provides a knowledge rich space in schools for young people to learn and grow together". A new guest blog on Pivotal Platform from Dr Julie Stirrup, of @lborouniversity.bsky.social, and Dr Shirley Gray, of @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"By diverting slurry solids from farms to AD plants, we can generate green energy, ease nutrient pressures & close the loop on nutrient cycles." Writing for Pivotal Platform Dr Áine Anderson, of BH Estates, details this innovation & policy barriers in its way. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

New Pivotal tracker report reviews recent progress by the Northern Ireland Executive on the Programme for Government and other priorities Read the report here pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

On Monday, we publish our newest tracker report, 18 months of the Northern Ireland Executive: a review. We look at what the departments have been doing, actions against the PfG priorities, and offer cross-cutting messages for ministers.

We are delighted to announce that we will be running a new policy leadership development programme for young people aged 18-25 this autumn. Find out more here: www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

"Decision-makers can use these structures to their benefit, road testing new ideas, testing public opinion, and importantly strengthening trust in political institutions." @emmadesouza.bsky.social is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Securing sustainable funding for water and sewage services in Northern Ireland - Pivotal responds to two important recent reports. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

"The result is that women are choosing not to run, stepping back from public roles or enduring ongoing psychological harm." Aoife Clements, @itseeefa.bsky.social, Founder of @5050ni.bsky.social, is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Read Pivotal's response to Assembly and Executive Review Committee on reforms to the Stormont institutions. In summary, we recognise concerns about the institutions' functioning, but suggest that reforms to remove the veto should be approached with caution. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

Read our consultation response on Developer Contributions for wastewater infrastructure below: These options may unlock some short-term developments, but tough decisions must not be avoided on longer-term funding, even if that means considering water charges. www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

"To grow a truly safer ageing society, we need a cultural shift that supports any legislative change. We need to value older people as active, respected members of our communities." Gareth Mulvenna, from Hourglass, writes for Pivotal Platform: www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

What does it take to turn policy announcements into real change? Ann Watt writes in today's @BelTel about Pivotal's recent research report 'Policy delivery in Northern Ireland' Read the full report here www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files... www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news...

View from Stormont looked at the High Court judgement on A5 upgrade, including a wider discussion on why NI struggles with big infrastructure projects. From 33:00, Ann Watt gave some analysis from our recent policy delivery report www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files... www.itv.com/watch/news/v...

A very important report from Pivotal - currently there is a lot of talk about the external factors that affect Northern Ireland, but this report is a reminder that there are factors within the control of government here that could lead to better outcomes for NI's economy & people

NEW Pivotal report - Policy delivery in Northern Ireland How do we make sure policy goals are achieved in practice? We asked 30 former senior civil servants, ministers, business and voluntary sector leaders to tell us about their experiences and ideas. www.pivotalpolicy.org/assets/files...

Tomorrow... 'Policy Delivery in Northern Ireland'. A new report from Pivotal.👀

'I fear we have moved beyond looking toward “investing to save” and are now in a position of needing to invest “to save” general practice in NI.' Dr Ursula Mason, of the Royal College of General Practitioners NI, writes for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Read Pivotal's statement on yesterday's UK Spending Review. "The Spending Review gives Northern Ireland a 3-year funding settlement but means difficult choices ahead. The money will have to be spent wisely, with strong emphasis on public service transformation" www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

What will next week's Spending Review mean for Northern Ireland? Ann Watt's article for Tuesday's Business Telegraph is now available to read on Pivotal's website www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

Today we are delighted to launch our new website pivotalpolicy.org. It provides a fresh platform to engage with our research and the latest news about our work. Our new site is now live - 1/5