"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

"It was a moment that proved love, a personal story and determination can push policy over the line. But it also taught me a lot about the system." Máirtín Mac Gabhann details lessons from the Donate4Dáithi campaign for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

A look ahead to next week's Spending Review in today's @belfasttelegraph.co.uk "This is a big moment for Northern Ireland’s public finances. A three-year settlement offers an opportunity for the Executive to take a longer-term look at what it funds and how" www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news...

I wrote a small piece for the lovely people @pivotalppf.bsky.social about policy initiatives of the past and arts policy and education right now.

"We should be revisiting the education system and looking back to policies that once demanded our attention and promised a brighter future for the arts sector and society." @smeeho7.bsky.social is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

Interesting read from BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on what to expect in UK Spending Review in couple of weeks' time (Weds 11 June). Spending Review will set 3-year spending totals for each Dept for 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29, including for Northern Ireland. Three points 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

19-25 May marks Dementia Action Week 2025. Ruth Barry, National Influencing Manager @alzheimerssoc.bsky.social, is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

Many thanks to Dr Donna Kernaghan of Stats & Stories for leading the focus groups with young people central to our new report: 'Achieving greater integration in Northern Ireland: young people's voices': www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/pub...

🚨 New Pivotal report - 'Achieving greater integration in Northern Ireland: young people's voices'. Published today. Read the report here - www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/pub...

'Achieving greater integration in Northern Ireland: young people's voices' - new Pivotal report coming out tomorrow 👀

"The current state of neurology services in Northern Ireland is not just a health issue - it is a moral and economic one." Carla Smyth, of Epilepsy Action NI & the NI Neurological Charities Alliance, is this week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the launch of our new VCS Policy Community network this morning! Great to connect with so many working on policy & public affairs across the sector - and brilliant insights from Ann Watt at @pivotalppf.bsky.social on the current policy landscape in NI.

My analysis of some big questions facing Integrated Education. Thanks to @pivotalppf.bsky.social for the platform. #IntegratedEducation #EdChatIE #EduSkyUK

"Four key questions facing the Integrated Education movement". This week's guest writer on Pivotal Platform is campaigner and data analyst @jackru.bsky.social - www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

Yesterday evening, @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social hosted an event to discuss possible reforms of Stormont. Speaking were @katyhayward.bsky.social, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, Ann Watt @pivotalppf.bsky.social and @alanwhysall.bsky.social, with John Garry as chair. Watch a recording 👇

"Waste management has long been the Cinderella of NI’s infrastructure. But it is critical that we invest in facilities if we want to develop a modern and progressive economy." Tim Walker of arc21 is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

At 5pm today, @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social is hosting an event about our latest report. Speaking will be @katyhayward.bsky.social, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, Ann Watt @pivotalppf.bsky.social and @alanwhysall.bsky.social, with John Garry as chair. The event is being recorded. Sign up to attend 👇

Delays to infrastructure are not only threatening NI's renewables target, they’re leaving consumers with needlessly high energy bills. In a new @pivotalppf.bsky.social, @renewableni.bsky.social Policy Analyst Shane Corcoran explains what’s going wrong – and what must be done to get back on track.

Achieving integration in schools & housing - Ann Watt in @belfasttelegraph.co.uk on our new report. "Change requires political commitment. Without politicians signing up to a unified aim, it is unrealistic to expect change to happen on the scale needed." www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/when...

"Delays to grid infrastructure and the lack of a storage strategy are political choices, not technical inevitabilities." Shane Corcoran of @renewableni.bsky.social is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

"NI has the potential to continue to lead the charge for a secure and prosperous cyberspace". Joanne English, of NI Cyber, is this week's guest contributor on Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

"This would be a perfect opportunity to start to align land use and transport planning, with a place-based approach rather than a sectoral one." Joanna Drennan, of @rtpiplanners.bsky.social in Northern Ireland, is this week's guest writer for Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

What actions have the NI Executive taken to tackle mental health issues and trauma in our society? Professor Siobhan O'Neill, Mental Health Champion for NI, writes in this week's Pivotal Platform. www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

Read Ruth Donaldson's insights on productivity in Northern Ireland, based on her research at The Productivity Institute with the Northern Ireland Productivity Forum.

How can Northern Ireland close its productivity gap? My Queen’s Business School colleague, Ruth Donaldson, outlines what the NI Executive needs to do, based on our recent report for the NI Productivity Forum & The Productivity Institute @productivity.bsky.social

Pivotal has submitted a short response to the consultation on the Northern Ireland Executive's draft Budget for 2025-26. Headlines below or read the full response here www.pivotalppf.org/cmsfiles/New...

Improving productivity "will require a cross–departmental approach", including the creation of a "pro–productivity institution, namely a Productivity and Growth Board." Ruth Donaldson, of Queen's Business School, is this week's guest contributor to Pivotal Platform www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/piv...

This week Pivotal published a new report - Achieving greater integration in education and housing. The report can be found here - www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/pub...

🚨 New Pivotal report - Achieving greater integration in education and housing. Read the report here: www.pivotalppf.org/our-work/pub...