Why has food become so expensive in the UK? 🛒 Rising global commodity prices, higher energy and transport costs, supply chain disruption and domestic pressures have all played a role. A new blog breaks down what's driving food prices higher 👇 https://bit.ly/4e5HkKj

Experimentation is an underrated AI risk management tool. Former No 10 data scientist James Kuht explains why letting civil servants test AI tools builds the ultimate skill: knowing where it works and where it fails. 🎧Watch the full episode of the Policy Fix on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Why are some government departments ahead of others when it comes to technology? 💻 Discover how the UK government can become world leaders in public service AI, in the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast. 🎥: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

The secret to successful government AI isn't the technology itself. It's a clear vision amongst leadership. In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast, our guests explore how to make AI deliver public value. 🎥: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

How can influencing + advising help scale social innovation? 📈 Join us for the next event in our series on scaling social innovations, exploring lessons from campaigning, advocacy and policymaker engagement. ⏰ 2 July, 18:00–19:15 BST 📍 London 🎟️ https://bit.ly/4dCMQoL

Will AI actually fix our public services or just create private wealth? 🏦 Nesta’s Mallory Durran warns that public value isn't guaranteed just because the tech is powerful. Hear how the civil service can maximise real-world impact using AI on the Policy Fix podcast. 🎧: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Policymakers are turning to AI to navigate huge evidence bases - but can they trust the outputs? We built Policy Atlas to improve transparency by classifying and scoring evidence strength. Here are 5 lessons on making AI evidence synthesis more reliable and usable for policy decisions.

The rise in energy bills is painful, but is there a hint that the government's clean power 2030 plan is starting to work? Normally when gas prices spike, electricity prices follow. But electricity prices haven't risen nearly as much. Is this a sign of decoupling? www.nesta.org.uk/blog/july-en...

Startups can limit risk by dropping difficult customers. Public services must cater to everyone, making innovation inherently trickier - but essential. Find out how the UK government must rethink risk to successfully adopt AI, in our latest Policy Fix ep. 🎧: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Yesterday evening, @nestauk.bsky.social held a panel discussion on the Healthy Food Standard 🥦🛒 Panellists included Becky Elliott, BHF's Head of Policy, Jim Dickson MP, Co-Chair of the new APPG on Dietary Health, and Chris Conway, former MD of Quick Commerce at Co-op.

The UK has no shortage of AI strategies - but are they a match given the scale of the challenge and opportunity? A new ep of the Policy Fix is out now. Listen to tech experts unpack what needs to happen for the UK to become a world-leader in public sector AI. 🎧: https://bit.ly/43liuB0

Collective intelligence offers a powerful way to approach complex public challenges by bringing together citizens and experts. In a new blog, Kathy Peach explores how our Centre for Collective Intelligence can help strengthen the Casey Commission's work on adult social care.

Drilling for more fossil fuels may ease today’s energy crisis - but what does it mean for climate goals tomorrow? In the latest Policy Fix podcast, our guests explore how the UK can break its reliance on oil and gas for good. Listen 🎧 : https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

What should the government do when the next energy shock hits? 💡 The key is electrification, says Nesta's Madeleine Gabriel in the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast. Our latest episode untangles the latest energy crisis and how to make this one the last ➡️ https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

Is the electricity-to-gas price ratio holding the UK back? ⚡️ Nesta CEO @raviguru.bsky.social argues the government must set a goal to keep the ratio at 2.9 or below to give heat pump & EV markets the confidence they need. Watch ep 4 of the Policy Fix, rate and subscribe ➡️ https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

At Nesta, we create and test countless ideas, but how do we scale them? Our scaling Innovations toolbox shares our approach to taking ideas to scale, with practical tools to build ambition, map routes to scale and connect with the people who can make change happen. https://bit.ly/4tW5Jsp

Our VAT system is a complex mess of absurd exemptions, from Jaffa Cakes to dog-skin gloves. In this third piece for our fiscal Options mini-series, @timleunig.bsky.social explores how applying a universal, lower rate of VAT could create a smarter tax system & raise billions. https://bit.ly/4lEX7l5

Is the UK truly insulated from energy shocks? ⚡ Nesta CEO @raviguru.bsky.social explains the mixed picture of UK energy security. 🎧Watch the full episode of our latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast - on how to make this energy crisis, the last: https://bit.ly/41K0PS

The 2022 energy crisis proved that energy behaviour isn't fixed. Gas use fell as people adapted 📉 Nesta’s Madeleine Gabriel explains the practical steps you can take right now to stay ahead of the next price shock. 🎧Watch ep 4 of the Policy Fix: https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

A wealth tax is politically popular, but is it actually good policy? 💷 In the latest Options for the UK essay, @timleunig.bsky.social highlights the costs and complexities of valuing assets and sets out potential alternatives - from stamp duty reform to a lifetime ISA cap. https://bit.ly/3QI8Fu2

How can we make real change in Whitehall? Nesta CEO @raviguru.bsky.social explains why reform swings between “big bang” overhauls and “elite squads” that get reabsorbed. A hybrid “Newco” model, borrowed from the private sector, could deliver faster, lasting change. Here's how ⤵️

Is your evaluation moving as fast as your mission? 🚀 At Nesta, we use theory-based evaluation to navigate systemic change in real-time. Our experts break down how we're using this method to track progress through complex systems: https://bit.ly/4ucEIkq

With another energy crisis looming, the government faces a familiar dilemma: boost benefits or cut prices? But the real question is: how does the UK break the energy crisis cycle for good? Listen to the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast: 🎥 https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

At 11,520 pages, the UK tax code is the longest in the world - and one of the most complex. A new three-part mini-series by @timleunig.bsky.social on fiscal options starts by looking at how the government can build a better, simpler tax system. Read more: https://bit.ly/4eL1jQf

How can we scale social innovations for lasting impact? 📈 Join us on 7 May for the launch of our new scaling toolkit with: 🎙️ Lord John Bird - The Big Issue 🎙️ Bayo Adelaja - Do It Now Now 🎙️ Sophie Tebbetts - FoodCycle 🎙️ Madeleine Gabriel - Nesta Register to attend: https://bit.ly/429KDum

If we’re serious about clean energy, we need to fix electricity prices. Right now, the gas vs electricity gap is holding back heat pumps, EVs and more. In ep 4 of the Policy Fix podcast, our guests break down the policy levers behind electrification. 🎧: https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

How is this energy shock different? ⛽️ Unlike 2022, this hits petrol and jet fuel now, with a winter hangover for bills coming. In this episode of the Policy Fix, our guests dig into how to fix the UK’s energy system. 🎥 Watch: https://bit.ly/41K0PSY 🎧 Rate & subscribe.

Should the government be more hands-on with energy-saving guidance for households? 💡 The latest episode of the Policy Fix is out now - hear our guests argue that the government must move beyond expensive, short-term bailouts to instead make clean energy irresistible. 🎧: https://bit.ly/41K0PSY

What’s behind Britain's sky-high industrial electricity prices? ⚡ Since the 2022 energy crisis, the UK has become a stark outlier. In the latest Options for the UK essay, Andrew Sissons unpacks the root causes of these high bills and outlines the policy options to fix them. https://bit.ly/4mN4clV

How can organisations harness agentic AI for social good? 🤖 Join our lunchtime webinar on 6 May (12:00–13:00 BST) to explore how to move beyond AI hype to practical implementation with AI experts. Register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4tLByUq

The UK government has announced £9,000 subsidies for households with oil and LPG boilers to get a heat pump. This is seriously good deal for rural homes - not only does it lower the upfront cost, a mid-sized home could save over £650 a year by switching from oil to a heat pump at current prices...

How can we make this the UK's last ever energy crisis? ⚡ Episode 4 of the Policy Fix podcast is out now. @jlowen.bsky.social sits down with @raviguru.bsky.social and @madgabes.bsky.social to untangle the latest energy shock. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://bit.ly/3Om0enk

Is it time for a social network built for the public, not profit? 🗣️ In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Tony Curzon Price argues we should experiment with online spaces designed to serve people - not just big tech companies shaping the internet today. 🎧: https://bit.ly/3Om0enk

Why are we still waiting for the market to fix social media?🏛️ In episode 3 of the Policy Fix podcast, Nest'as Tony Curzon Price says we need to look beyond banning social media and start building public alternatives that prioritise safety. 🎧: https://bit.ly/3Om0enk

How much would you need to be paid to quit social media?📱 Research shows students would need $200 to leave, but they’d pay for everyone to quit together. In this ep of the Policy Fix, Tony Curzon Price dissects the study and how we can make platforms safe by design. 🎧: https://bit.ly/3Om0enk

How far is the law falling behind AI? 🤖 The Online Safety Act exists, but it lacks a clear definition of "safety by design". In this ep of the Policy Fix Hannah Perry @demos-uk.bsky.social argues that without one, risky AI features are reaching children unchecked. 🎧: https://bit.ly/3Om0enk

What can we learn from past energy crises for today’s energy challenges? Last time we spent about £40bn on energy bill support - but we didn't fix our reliance on fossil fuels. Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy breaks down how to move beyond bailouts to accelerate to a secure, affordable energy system ⤵️

How do we make invention and innovation central to the UK's future? In the latest Options for the UK essay, Nesta’s Joe Owen proposes a 'British Nobel Prize' - a future-focused challenge award to reignite our culture of invention and solve major societal problems of our time. How could it work? ⤵️

News 🗞️ We’re partnering with Greggs to explore ways to support healthier choices for their customers. Our partnership will generate robust, real-world evidence on what works to improve the healthiness of food sales at scale. Read more about our partnership ⤵️

AI has enormous potential to transform policymaking - but it won’t work if governments try to layer it on top of broken systems. If we get the basics right, AI could help policymakers design better, faster, and more effective policy for the public. Here's how ⤵️

Is a social media ban for kids a real solution or a policy distraction? 📱 In this ep of the Policy Fix, Tony Curzon Price explains why we should regulate social media like we regulate cars: safety by design, not a blanket ban. Watch the full episode ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Om0enk 🎧 Subscribe and share

Online safety isn’t a 'future' problem🚨 In this ep of the Policy Fix, Tony Curzon Price explains why we must treat online safety with the urgency it deserves. 🎧 Listen to Tony & @hannahperry.bsky.social on how to make social media truly safe for children: https://bit.ly/3PK8HRH

Ep 3 of the Policy Fix is out now🎙️ We explore how to move beyond blanket bans to truly make social media safer for children. Tony Curzon Price and @hannahperry.bsky.social explain why the current system is failing families. Listen to the full episode🎧: https://bit.ly/3PK8HRH

How a test, learn and grow approach can help the UK government deliver on warm homes ⤵️ The Warm Homes Agency should move beyond strategic planning to "learning by doing." By treating local areas as partners to test what works, the government can create the tools needed to upgrade millions of homes.

Can agentic AI help solve complex social challenges? They can be a powerful fit for innovation - like building AI agents for heat pump installers - but it isn't always the right solution. We’ve developed a five-question framework to determine when building an agent truly makes sense.

Partnerships with the food industry are critical to enable us to design, test and scale potential solutions to rising obesity levels. We’ve partnered with Deliveroo and Maki & Ramen to develop and test small changes to menus that can help people make healthier choices https://bit.ly/4uRIxMW

We have a new home for ideas and radical thinking on policy challenges - Options for the UK. The latest essay, from @timleunig.bsky.social, tackles the housing crisis and proposes bricks and mortar solutions to help the UK government meet its housing target. https://bit.ly/4bJWJP7

Why does the government keep policy & delivery in separate boxes? And could this be the reason why so many good policy designs fail to reach the real world? On the Policy Fix podcast, @jlowen.bsky.social explores how to break down the government silos. 🎥 Listen: https://bit.ly/4shTzt9

Can government only deliver by breaking its own rules? On the latest ep of the Policy Fix podcast @jillongovt.bsky.social and @andrewgreenway.bsky.social explore whether government has built the necessary "muscle" to be genuinely responsive. 🎥 Watch here: bit.ly/4shTzt9

What does the pandemic tell us about the true capacity of the UK state? ☕ @jillongovt.bsky.social and @andrewgreenway.bsky.social join the Policy Fix to explore why the "crisis energy" of the furlough scheme is so hard to harness for long-term policy. 🎥 Watch here: https://bit.ly/4shTzt9