Nesta

🎙️ What are the big policy ideas shaping the debate at Conservative party conference?

Here's our policy team discussing the key policy ideas that we heard, and what else should be on the table ⤵️

🗓️ Explore our full programme: https://lnkd.in/eG4KT3igr

Seven tests for the government’s Warm Homes plan Accelerating the switch from gas to electricity, make electricity cheaper, and balancing electrification with insulation are key policies that could reduce bills and carbon emissions for households

The long-awaited Warm Homes plan is expected to launch in October, and it will be one of the government’s most important and challenging policy plans.

A new blog by Nesta's @acjsissons.bsky.social outlines the 7 tests the plan must meet to tackle fuel poverty, energy bills and decarbonisation:

Seven tests for the government’s Warm Homes plan Accelerating the switch from gas to electricity, make electricity cheaper, and balancing electrification with insulation are key policies that could reduce bills and carbon emissions for households

The Warm Homes Plan is coming, and it should provide a lot of answers and new details to how the Government will tackle the issues of energy bills, fuel poverty and emissions from homes.

@acjsissons.bsky.social sets out seven tests to judge the merits of the plan

www.nesta.org.uk/blog/seven-t...

How does Nesta’s mission to halve obesity by 2030 relate to health inequalities? Why a population-level approach can create the largest real-world improvements in obesity across the UK population

How can halving obesity in the UK also help to narrow health inequalities?

At Nesta, we’re working to halve obesity by 2030 with a population-level approach. Read more on why we think this is the most equitable way to reduce obesity. https://bit.ly/4pRtnEY

🎙️ What policy ideas should be on the table at this year's party conferences?

We've been at the Labour Party Conference this week to explore policy solutions to the big challenges facing the UK.

Find out what else we've got coming up: https://bit.ly/4oMmC6L

Hi Owen, unfortunately the library isn't open to contributions. But a great idea for something in the future!

New pictures!

Today we're excited to be launching the first images from our new resource of engaging, accessible and real-life images of heat pumps across the UK, free for non-profit, editorial and educational use.

Find out more and view the images:
www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

What do you picture when you hear about heat pumps?

📸 A new online library published by Nesta and @climatevisuals.bsky.social challenges misconceptions, normalise this green tech in the home and show how they fit in with everyday life. https://www.climatevisuals.org/heatpumps/

Old policy methods struggle with today’s complex challenges.

Learn how flexible, iterative ‘test and learn’ approaches help governments reduce risk, adapt fast, and deliver impactful public services with @bitglobal.bsky.social's new course.

🔗 Book your place now: https://bit.ly/463YRQg

Is removing VAT really the best way to cut energy bills? Targeting electricity bills, subsidising bill-funded schemes, or a one-off debt forgiveness program offer more effective, fair, and sustainable solutions

Is removing VAT the best way to cut energy bills?

Our new blog looks at the alternatives, from targeting electricity to a one-off debt forgiveness scheme. Is there a better way to spend £2.5 billion?

⤵️ https://bit.ly/42ElFDV

🎙️ What did our speakers find inspiring at Policy Live 2025?

From honest conversations about challenges and solutions, to collaboration on policy innovation, here's what our speakers took from Policy Live ⤵️

🎥 Watch back online: https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

Where should the new best start family hubs be located to improve outcomes in the early years? We recommend that the government uses data on access to family hubs, free school meals, inequality, and deprivation at a neighbourhood level to decide on the strategic placement of hubs

The government’s ambition to create up to 1,000 family hubs across England by 2028 has been backed by a £500m investment.

How should this additional investment be spent to best support disadvantaged children? Our new data analysis explores ⤵️

🎙️ The UK faces big challenges - but are there reasons to be optimistic?

Last week, we hosted Policy Live, our one-day conference on how to do policy differently, where speakers shared fresh ideas and solutions on how to build a brighter future.

Watch back our sessions: https://bit.ly/4m0j4fx

🎙️ Why should the UK do policy differently?

Last week, we hosted Policy Live, our one-day conference on how to do policy differently, featuring politicians, policy experts, business leaders, and changemakers.

🎥 Watch back a selection of sessions online ➡️ https://bit.ly/4mnXroJ

Harnessing AI to positively disrupt policymaking Lessons learned from our user research

Policymakers often face limited time pressures and fragmented evidence.

What if there was an AI-powered tool that allowed policymakers to rapidly identify the most effective policies to tackle social challenges, based on latest evidence and research?

We're developing a new tool to do just that ⤵️

NHS waiting list data strengthens case for preventative health Despite some improvements in reducing the most extreme waits, the system continues to face challenges

NHS waiting times are vital for people's experience of the health service as well as their health.

We've dug into the data behind rising NHS waiting times - and why they strengthen the case for taking a preventative approach to health, easing pressure on the system ⤵️

“HMT is the single greatest barrier to devolved policy innovation in the UK”- Mark Drakeford

‘100% agree with that’ - Nicola Sturgeon

@nestauk.bsky.social PolicyLive was a great one!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for #PolicyLive!

More than 400 guests joined us in Westminster to explore how to do policy differently and solve the UK's most pressing challenges.

🎥 Watch back a selection of our sessions now: https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

#PolicyLive 2025 is underway!

🎙️We’re live in Westminster exploring bold ideas to drive social change in the UK.

There’s still more to come on the livestream - watch live ➡️ www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82...

We’re LIVE from Westminster for #PolicyLive, exploring how to do policy differently ⚡

Not joining us in person? Tune in to our live stream to hear talks on economic growth, immigration, mission-driven government, how to make big ideas spread and more ➡️ https://www.policylive.org/nesta/332/82846

📣 24 hours until Policy Live: our one-day event on how to do policy differently.

🚨 Final few in-person spaces available - registration closes today, so don't miss your chance to apply for your ticket ⤵️

Why do people choose to use or resist AI?

The first chapter in our new four-part framework - AI & human behaviour - looks at what drives or holds back AI adoption, and how leaders can encourage deep integration of AI that complements and enhances human work.

bit.ly/46hqWm8

Prevention and treatment package Back to policy packages overview This package provides a level playing field for retailers and the out of home sector whilst restricting children’s exposure to advertising and promotions of unhealthy…

You can read more about Nesta’s recommended policies for halving obesity over five years through our blueprint toolkit, which evaluates the impact of different obesity reduction policies: blueprint.nesta.org.uk/policy-packa...

What is the government’s new healthy food standard, and how does it work? An explainer on how the policy works, why it's the right approach and how it will impact consumers and businesses

Using our latest economic modelling, we found that our proposal to introduce mandatory health targets for the largest supermarkets should save the NHS around £23bn.

The government has announced a version of this policy as part of the healthy food standard announced in its 10-Year Health Plan:

Weight-loss jabs are not enough to tackle the obesity crisis, experts warn Weight-loss drug Mounjaro will be rolled out to a quarter of a million NHS patients. But leading experts tell Rebecca Thomas and Alicja Hagopian that weight-loss jabs alone will not be enough to…

🗞️ New analysis by Nesta, featured in @the-independent.com, shows the high cost of reducing obesity rates in the UK with weight-loss medication alone, compared to a strategy that includes prevention policies ⤵️

Test-and-learn portfolios for systemic change How we're practising public design to help drive system-wide transformation

Tackling today’s biggest challenges means working across whole systems - which is often messy, complex, and hard to manage.

Our latest blog shares some of the practical approaches we’ve been testing to steward systemic change, drawing on lessons from our clean heat neighbourhoods work ⤵️

The countdown is on: just 1 week until Policy Live 2025 🚀

Don’t miss your chance to hear bold ideas, practical lessons and new approaches to tackling today’s biggest policy challenges with leading experts.

Final places available – apply here: www.policylive.org/nesta/332/home

The countdown is on: just 1 week until Policy Live 2025 🚀

Don’t miss your chance to hear bold ideas, practical lessons and new approaches to tackling today’s biggest policy challenges with leading experts.

Final places available – apply here: www.policylive.org/nesta/332/home

Tackling inequalities through proactive support during pregnancy Learn about our collaborative project with Camden Council

Join us on Tues 9 September for a lunchtime webinar to find out more about our work leveraging existing data to identify and support families most in need.

Hear how the project was designed, the opportunities and challenges it presents and how to implement it in local authorities.

Register ⤵️

Family Hubs Pregnancy Grant Toolkit A practical guide to designing and delivering a pregnancy grant programme

We’ve developed a toolkit for those in local government who would like to explore new ways to support low-income families during pregnancy using proactive outreach.

Explore the toolkit ⤵️