Sky’s Attention Index: How we watch and connect.

A new report from Sky and Public First reveals what is grabbing our attention in today's information-rich world.

Unlocking the UK’s AI Potential: Harnessing AI for Economic Growth

Today, Public First publishes new research commissioned by Microsoft examining how the UK can harness AI to power economic growth. Using a combination of new economic modelling and an extensive survey of over 1,000 senior business decision makers in the UK we explored the opportunities created by digital technology for the UK, the supporting investments that will be needed to realise these opportunities and the current barriers to adoption.

Hybrid Work Commission – New Research

Led by Public First, the Commission on Hybrid and Remote Work was set up to examine the rise in hybrid and remote working and make recommendations on how the UK Government can respond to the rise in hybrid and remote working to the advantage of people, communities, and the broader UK economy.

Protected: When Reality and Perception Match (…or Don’t)

Public Services in Britain and How the Public Sees Them

Driving Digital Acceleration

In order to better understand the potential of cloud computing and AI in the UK, Amazon Web Services (AWS) commissioned Public First to undertake new quantitative research on how UK businesses are using – and plan to use – cloud computing.

Immersive Research with the Telegraph: Perceptions of the Government two months after the Election

Public First conducted immersive research for the Telegraph - speaking to voters in Hitchin about their perceptions of the Labour Party two months after the General Election.

Tomorrow’s teachers: A roadmap to get Gen Z into the classroom

New polling for Teach First explores Gen Z attitudes to teaching.

Santander Key Growth Markets

New report for Santander explores the future of the UK as a global trading partner

New Polling for the IHPN

Public First conducted a Nationally Representative poll for the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), which features in the 2024 Going Private report.

Student polling for the International Baccalaureate

Public First has today published the findings from a survey carried out for the International Baccalaureate (IB) of its students around the world.

What Would a Kamala Harris Presidency Mean for Tech Policy?

Understanding how a Harris presidency could shape the digital landscape requires looking at her career “in the context” of the Internet’s evolution, her rise in public office, and (most importantly) how her plans align with the electorate’s wishes.

The Pub and the People – Immersive Research Study

Public First immersive research study of 11 pubs in Bolton, Greater Manchester over five days in November 2023

Saving Generation Z: How 16 – 27 year olds save and spend

New Public First research for Yorkshire Building Society on how Generation Z save and spend.

New polling for Phoenix Insights

Polling for Phoenix Insights on public perceptions of career change.

Public First Government Missions Tracker

The Public First team is tracking all key policy announcements made by the Government relevant to its 5 missions

Institution Overboard: New Public First report calls for £2.5bn government fund to stop universities going under

New Public First report calls for £2.5bn government fund to stop universities going under

Public First supports new AI skills pilot programme from Google

Today, Google launches a new pilot programme, AI Works, to support and empower workers to use AI tools by giving them the skills, confidence and contextual knowledge to integrate AI into their working lives.  Public First is proud to support this initiative, helping provide the research base on which the programme is built.

Upgrade: How to deliver better homes by 2030

Public First conducted opinion research in support of the Home Upgrade Commission, looking into public awareness of and support for improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

New Polling for CaSE

Public First conducted opinion research for the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) on public perspectives on research & development in relation to the 2024 UK general election. 

Young people’s perceptions of careers in the pharmaceutical industry – The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

Public First has conducted research into young people's perceptions of careers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Exploring Political Sentiment in Newark: An Immersive Study

In collaboration with The Times newspaper, Public First ran an immersive research study in the constituency of Newark where we spoke to residents over a two-day period (24th-25th June) during the 2024 general election.

Great British Energy: From pledge to reality

Great British Energy: From pledge to reality is a Public First report, commissioned by RenewableUK.

The potential role of Higher Technical Qualifications in Labour’s Growth and Skills Levy

New Public First economic modelling on the potential benefits of Labour allowing employers to spend a proportion of their Growth and Skills Levy funds on HTQs, we use existing published economic analysis on the returns to individuals of taking HTQ qualifications at Level 4 and 5.

Public First Polling during Week 4 of the Election Campaign

We ran our fourth weekly omnibus poll of the 2024 General Election campaign from Friday 21st June - Sunday 23rd June 2024. We asked respondents questions about how favourably they viewed different politicians and political parties, their familiarity with Labour Leader Keir Starmer, and what characteristics they most associated with him.

Public First Polling during Week 3 of the Election Campaign

We ran our third weekly omnibus poll of the 2024 General Election campaign from Friday 14th June - Sunday 16th June. We asked respondents questions about how favourably they viewed different politicians and political parties, how they think different public services will change, and their views on Labour's potential impact on a variety of policy areas.

The Planning Premium: The Value of Well-made Places

Public First today publishes a new analysis of the potential economic impact of successful planning on the quality, desirability and volume of new housing developments. 

Public First 2024 General Election Policy Tracker

The Public First team is tracking all policy announcements during the 2024 election campaign. We have picked out the key areas where parties will need to give the public answers, from how they'll manage the NHS workforce to how they propose to build more houses.

Rewiring the State

If the next government wants to cut the cost of fraud and improve the delivery of public services, they will need to make some fundamental changes to the way government issues, collects and processes personal data.

Public First Education Polling

New polling on education priorities ahead of the GE2024

New Polling on Election Seat Counts

Public First surveyed adults across the UK to explore how they would react to different potential election outcomes. We found that the public is broadly expecting Labour to win the election, although not by a very comfortable margin, the majority of the public is happy with even exceptionally large Labour majorities, and most strikingly, there is a substantial appetite for a total Tory wipe-out (meaning the Conservatives winning 0 seats).

Whose policy is that anyway? Asking the public which party is proposing what

At Public First, we’ve been pulling together a policy tracker which follows the parties’ announcements across all policy areas throughout the campaign, to help answer the question: who is promising what?

Public First’s pub focus group with the Telegraph: ‘Farage is right – nothing works anymore’

This week, Public First held a focus group for The Telegraph - speaking to members of the public in Wolverhampton about the upcoming general election.

The economic case for counselling in schools and colleges

New Public First research for Citizens UK and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) highlights the scale of the mental health emergency among children and young people - and the economic case for universal counselling provision in schools and colleges.

High Streets have changed dramatically over the past 15 years. And much of the public isn’t happy about it.

Banks and bricks & mortar retail have declined, while the number of beauty salons and e-commerce-linked businesses has soared. Older voters are least happy with this change.

Public First Polling during Week 1 of the Election Campaign

We ran our first weekly omnibus poll of the 2024 General Election campaign from the Friday 31st May - Sunday 2nd June 2024. We asked respondents questions about how favourably they viewed different politicians and political parties, their familiarity with party campaign messages, and their views on whether they think the Labour Party has changed from the previous election in 2019.

New Polling on High Streets

Public First conducted new polling on High Streets as part of our monthly omnibus. We asked respondents how often they visit their local high street, how they would rate their local high street, and whether they think their high street has too much or not enough of different types of businesses.

The public are ready for AI to start help tackle NHS problems – are Labour?

Noah Bezalel talks some recent PF polling on how the public feel about AI being used in healthcare and how Labour can utilise this to "build an NHS fit for the future"

New Polling for UK Finance

Public First conducted an anonymous, online survey of 3,010 adults across England from 15th January – 20th January 2024 for UK Finance.

New Polling on Economic Sentiments

As part of our monthly omnibus, Public First conducted polling of We asked them a series of questions about their views towards the economy, and the government's relationship to it. In our research, we found that a majority of respondents think the government is harming the economy, and respondents are almost twice as likely to say they are less financially comfortable a year ago than they are today.

Public Attitudes to Opera – Laidlaw Opera Trust

Today, we release a preliminary report on some of the most interesting findings from our research into public attitudes to Opera, which we have been working on with the Laidlaw Opera Trust.

Tackling transport deserts in Chicago: lessons from the ground

Ed Shackle reflects on his time researching public attitudes towards the shortcomings in public transport in Chicago, and how the ecosystem for transportation is changing thanks to ride-sharing apps.

Vision for Publishing: The role of publishing in the UK’s success

The Publisher’s Association commissioned Public First to better understand and evaluate the role of the publishing industry in the UK, its potential for further growth, and determine the policies needed to uphold and strengthen publishing’s social, personal, economic and innovative value to the UK. The report can be downloaded here.

Powering Creativity: How the UK’s broadcast and entertainment sector can lead the world

Sky commissioned Public First and Oxford Economics to determine Sky’s economic and cultural contributions to the UK and better understand how the British public’s viewing habits are changing. The report also identifies opportunities for growth in the broadcast and entertainment sector and sets out policy priorities to take advantage of these.

The impact of Uber in Mexico: 2023

Uber Mexico commissioned Public First to develop in-depth insights into the impacts of Uber for consumers, driving and delivery partners, and merchants and local communities. Alongside the estimated MX$73.13bn in economic value Uber contributed to the Mexican economy in 2022, the report highlights the flexibility offered to drivers, the importance of convenience and safety to consumers and the support provided by Uber to small businesses.

The Impact of Uber in the UK: 2023

Uber commissioned Public First to produce a new report of the impact of Uber in the UK as an update to its first report published in 2021. Since then, Uber has grown significantly, connecting over 100,000 drivers with 5 million active riders. The report focuses not only on the economic importance of Uber to the UK, but also reveals Uber’s impact on sustainable travel choices and on feeling safe while out at night.

Delivering the Goods with DoorDash: 2023

Public First has produced a new report on the impact of DoorDash in the United States in 2023. The report highlights the role of DoorDash in providing flexible earning opportunities for ‘Dashers’, in helping merchants like restaurants or grocers grow their businesses, and in enhancing the choice and convenience of consumers.

New opinion research for Kialo

Public First conducted a public opinion research project for Kialo on critical thinking and oracy to discover whether there is public appetite for changes to the education system that would place greater emphasis on these skills.

The Impact of Uber in Canada

Uber Canada commissioned Public First to better understand and quantify the impact they were having on Canadians and the Canadian economy. In particular, the research focuses on riders and consumers, drivers and delivery people and communities.

New Polling on Economic Growth

Public First conducted a survey asking voters a series of questions about their views on economic growth. We found that over a third of voters think that they do not personally benefit when the economy grows, and that big businesses and higher-income earners are more likely to benefit instead.

Pears Foundation and Public First launch the Commission on Countering Online Conspiracy in Schools

Pears Foundation and Public First are proud to announce the launch of the Commission on Countering Online Conspiracy in Schools. Chaired by Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair of the Pears Foundation, and Sir Mufti Hamid Patel, CEO of Star Academies, the Commission has kicked off perhaps the biggest ever inquiry into how online conspiracy theories, as well as misinformation and disinformation, are manifesting in the classroom.

Changing Our Approach To Political Qualitative Research

Public First is changing its approach to political and policy research by introducing a new qualitative research product for clients. After a year of trials in the UK, the US, and around the world - led by Ed Shackle - we are introducing our new “Immersive Research” product, which is now a standard product for clients investigating politically-relevant issues.