As we approach the final year of the current political mandate, it is essential that nitrogen and phosphorus governance is better aligned and coordinated". A new guest article for Pivotal Platform from Aine Anderson and Jack Blakiston Houston for BH Estates. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"The challenge now is not to create more plans, but to ensure that this one is realised through action, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to community-led regeneration.” A new guest article for Pivotal Platform from Billy Drummond of BUILD Shankill. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"Northern Ireland has demonstrated that it can move on women’s health policy. The next challenge is ensuring women can move confidently within the system itself." Precious Obasohan, founder of SHE, is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

International uncertainty "should focus our attention on strengthening the fundamental foundations of domestic economic growth and resilience." Ben Fletcher, of @logisticsuk.bsky.social, writes for our guest blog series Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

"Whilst recognising and celebrating progress, it is impossible to ignore the myriad challenges facing women in NI." Following International Women's Day, Dervilia Kernaghan from @womensplatformni.bsky.social writes for our guest blog series. www.pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/piv...

Pivotal has responded to the consultation on the proposed draft multi-year budget for the NI Executive. In our response we provide analysis of the unprecedented funding position and make some suggestions about how it can best be handled. Read here pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/new...

"Too much time and energy is wasted today on fuelling political divisions rather than finding solutions. Somehow, ministers must rediscover the spirit of compromise that underpinned the Belfast Agreement." Ann Watt writes for The Irish Times Common Ground www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

What's the 'State of the State' in Northern Ireland? Read our article that takes a look at the latest report from @deloitteinsights.bsky.social and @re-state.bsky.social about what the public and senior leaders think about how well government is working here www.linkedin.com/pulse/state-...

"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...