The Future Governance Forum (FGF)

ICYMI - As the UK/France migration deal comes into force, you can read @bethgardiner-smith.bsky.social & my take here, drawing on our research with @futuregovforum.bsky.social

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On Times Radio @harrywallop.co.uk show - @philtinline.bsky.social explains FGF’s proposal to improve the asylum system by setting up Asylum Management Centres in France.

Listen from 1hr, 38mins 55 secs ⬇️

@emilyagraham.bsky.social @bethgardiner-smith.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/radio/show/2...

Awards home - Smart Thinking Applications close in...

The new Smart Thinking industry awards are a brilliant way to shine a spotlight on the work think tanks do to generate impactful policy ideas and help shape the public debate.

Find out more about the Smart Thinking Awards here:
smartthinking.org.uk/awards-home/

FGF’s new Business Panel brings business leaders and policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges By John Lehal, Convenor of The Future Governance Forum Business Panel.

Last month was the first meeting of our @futuregovforum.bsky.social Business Panel - alongside our civil society and local/regional govt networks, this is a chance for business leaders, policymakers & experts to talk tackling the UK's big challenges

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/fgfs-new-b...

FGF’s new Business Panel brings business leaders and policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges By John Lehal, Convenor of The Future Governance Forum Business Panel.

John Lehal is Convenor of FGF’s Business Panel and has written an excellent article about its work bringing business leaders & policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges.

Read John’s article here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
futuregovforum.substack.com/p/fgfs-new-b...

FGF’s new Business Panel brings business leaders and policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges By John Lehal, Convenor of The Future Governance Forum Business Panel.

The FGF Business Panel met for the first time recently and were delighted to hear from @rachelblakemp.bsky.social
member of the Treasury Select Committee & FGF’s Chief Economist and former Downing Street advisor, @danrcorry.bsky.social

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/fgfs-new-b...

FGF’s new Business Panel brings business leaders and policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges By John Lehal, Convenor of The Future Governance Forum Business Panel.

John Lehal is Convenor of FGF’s Business Panel and has written an excellent article about its work bringing business leaders & policymakers together to tackle the country’s big challenges.

Read John’s article here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
futuregovforum.substack.com/p/fgfs-new-b...

How has the relationship between government and industry shifted since Labour took office?

This morning, FGF's @gracewyld.bsky.social joined a @cipr.co.uk and Ellwood Atfield event to discuss, appearing alongside the CBI's Alice Grimes, CIPR's @farzanabaduel.bsky.social and FGF advisor John Lehal.

How can we deliver a long-term national strategy that mobilises communities across the UK ? 💡

The Heywood Fellowship, with Policy Wise and @futuregovforum.bsky.social is building a practical future-focused framework – with lessons from Port Talbot and Cambridge ⬇️
www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/fellowship/h...

Announcing the Social Insights Panel: a new FGF project led by Polly Neate (Picture credit: Honor Elliot)

At @futuregovforum.bsky.social we were delighed to announce our own new initiative alongside the Covenant:

A new 'Social Insights Panel', led by @pollyneate.bsky.social, to bring civil society expertise to bear on x-cutting, 'wicked' challenges

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

FGF at Party Conferences 2025 | Full programme Join us at this year’s Labour and Liberal Democrat Party Conferences.

The countdown to #PartyConferences2025 is on! 🌹🔶

This year, FGF will be heading to Labour and Lib Dem Conferences with a packed agenda exploring the biggest political and delivery challenges facing the UK.

Check out our programme, launched today 🚀
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/party-confer...

How design capabilities could help the government deliver their national missions By Nigel Ball, Lucy Kimbell, Ramia Mazé, Esme Trevelyan, Niki Wallace and Grace Wyld.

Read a new article on how design capabilities could help the government deliver their national missions

The article is by UAL’s @nigelball.bsky.social, Professor Lucy Kimbell, Ramia Mazé, Esme Trevelyan & Niki Wallace, & FGF’s @gracewyld.bsky.social

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/how-design...

The left can’t count on 16-year-olds’ votes – but here’s ... Young people want politicians who speak to them on platforms they actually use. One is doing this very well. His name is Nigel…

We’re proud of FGF cub researcher @shuab.bsky.social getting his first byline in a national news platform today via @theobserveruk.bsky.social - ‘The left can’t count on 16-year-olds’ votes - but here’s how they might be won’

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

CIPR logo. Ellwood Atfield logo. Red Tape or Red Carpet? How has the Government's Relationship with Business Changed Under Labour. Headshots of the panel chair, Farzana Baduel, and three speakers, Jonathan Ashworth, Grace Wyld, and Alice Grimes. Tuesday 22 July, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM.

There’s just one week left to register for our panel discussion exploring how Labour’s mission-based government has engaged with business since taking office.

Join experts from the CBI, Future Governance Forum, and more next Tuesday 22 July in London.

Register now: bit.ly/4lnDKh3

Really pleased we can announce his today to coincide with the govt’s new civil society covenant - and looking forward to getting cracking with @pollyneate.bsky.social on this next week!

Some really good stuff coming out of FGF. And anything with Polly Neate leading it gives me hope!

One leader’s reflections on moving from the civil service to civil society Emma de Closset is the Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a place-based network which invests in communities through local giving and philanthropy.

Yesterday we also published this brilliant piece by Emma de Closset on moving from the civil service to civil society:

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/one-leader...

Announcing the Social Insights Panel: a new FGF project led by Polly Neate (Picture credit: Honor Elliot)

Excited to announce The Social Insights Panel - putting into practice today's Civil Soc Covenant to influence the Test, Learn, Grow approach to public service reform. (Most excitingly it means I get to work with @pollyneate.bsky.social to make it happen)

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

Polly Neate (@pollyneate) Very excited to be helping ensure the government’s public sector reforms have civil society wisdom to draw upon ⬇️

Excited to announce this project with the Future Governance Forum today, in the wake of the government’s launch this week of the Civil Society Covenant and phase 2 of the Test, Learn & Grow approach to public service reform. Check it out on Substack:
substack.com/@pollyneate/...

Announcing the Social Insights Panel: a new FGF project led by Polly Neate (Picture credit: Honor Elliot)

The Social Insights Panel led by FGF Policy Associate @pollyneate.bsky.social (backed by the Henry Smith Foundation) will influence & support the government’s work to address “wicked” challenges starting with a focus on the Test, Learn & Grow programme ⬇️

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

Announcing the Social Insights Panel: a new FGF project led by Polly Neate (Picture credit: Honor Elliot)

Today’s Civil Society Covenant outlines principles for a better relationship between government and civil society, and we’re announcing a new initiative putting those principles into action. [1 / 2]

More ⬇️
futuregovforum.substack.com/p/announcing...

One leader’s reflections on moving from the civil service to civil society Emma de Closset is the Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a place-based network which invests in communities through local giving and philanthropy.

Read a brilliant article by Emma de Closset, Chief Executive of @ukcf.bsky.social about her reflections on moving from civil service to civil society ⬇️

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/one-leader...

A slide from a presentation - ‘Where we started’ and ‘Where we are now’

A slide from a presentation about test and learn work in Nottingham

A slide from a presentation: “Spoiler alert: We’re still doing it and it’s making things better for children”

A slide: “Conditions we need leaders to create now, to enable Test Learn and Grow 1. Build governance that enables test and learn 2. Make space for people to lead the work whatever their level 3. Be visible in spaces where new ways of working are being tried 4. Invest in user research expertise 5. Encourage people who instinctively value this way of working to find each other”

Honestly, this Test & Learn event is joyful. There are so many examples of the real-life transformation of public institutions - quicker, more responsive, more human, more purpose-driven and fun to work in. e.g. these slides are from a brilliant example from Nottingham 1/n

UKCF's Chief Executive, Emma de Closset, standing outside in a well-lit forest, smiling into the distance.

Read the reflections of our Chief Executive in @futuregovforum.bsky.social on her journey from the civil service to civil society and the lessons she's learned from both sectors.
⬇️
futuregovforum.substack.com/p/one-leader...

#UKPolitics #UKLeadership #CivilSociety #CivilService #Impact #UKCharities

This is really very good - well worth a read. I think the point about respecting people’s time is particularly well made. Relationships are built on trust - including trust that people will show up when they say

One leader’s reflections on moving from the civil service to civil society Emma de Closset is the Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a place-based network which invests in communities through local giving and philanthropy.

Emma’s article is aimed at people in the civil service & in civil society, on why:
* Going to places is not the same as getting to know them
* Collaboration begins with respect for other people’s time
* Duty & purpose can pull us apart or bring us together
futuregovforum.substack.com/p/one-leader...

One leader’s reflections on moving from the civil service to civil society Emma de Closset is the Chief Executive of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a place-based network which invests in communities through local giving and philanthropy.

Read a brilliant article by Emma de Closset, Chief Executive of @ukcf.bsky.social about her reflections on moving from civil service to civil society ⬇️

futuregovforum.substack.com/p/one-leader...

Asylum Management Centres: A new approach to tackle small boat crossings - Future Governance Forum A realistic path to reduce dangerous small boat crossings and restore control at the border - while upholding international law.

The next test is if this new approach can be scaled so that it can have real, significant and lasting impact.

That's what's at the heart of @futuregovforum.bsky.social's Asylum Management Centres proposal: www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/asy...

Ex-Cooper aide: 'Keir's ground-breaking deal with France suggests his migration approach could be bearing fruit' - LabourList On entering No.10 last year, the Prime Minister pledged to reset the government’s approach on tackling people smuggling. This ground-breaking deal with France suggests this approach could finally be b...

New UK-France deal on asylum is groundbreaking - moves towards both *deterring* small boat crossings & *diverting* ppl onto safer routes.

My colleagues @bethgardiner-smith.bsky.social and @emilyagraham.bsky.social have written for @labourlist.bsky.social this morning: labourlist.org/2025/07/keir...