News Archives - Public First

The Pennywell Fellowship: a new blueprint for civic collaboration with schools

The Pennywell Fellowship is a bold new initiative designed to transform opportunities for young people in Sunderland.

Listening to young people: new research on the attendance crisis in schools

Impetus and Public First publish groundbreaking new research on the attendance crisis in schools, from the perspective of pupils themselves.

Practising YIMBYs: Most people support development in practice as well as in principle

A new Public First report finds that people are likely to support new housing and other infrastructure development in practice as well as in theory – even if it’s often assumed otherwise.

The Quiet Yes: Why Listening to the Majority Could Unlock Development

A new Public First report finds that a majority of Brits are in favour of local development, but their views often go unheard by decision makers. The research explores the real balance of public opinion on development, the profiles of those that instinctively support development ('YIMBYs') and those that instinctively oppose development ('NIMBYs'); and, what both groups think about development and the planning system.

Education experts appointed to White Working-Class Educational Outcomes inquiry

Some of the highest profile names in education policy and politics will serve on the inquiry board of the Independent Inquiry into White Working-Class Educational Outcomes. The Inquiry is an investigation into what is and isn’t working for white working-class children and young people, and importantly, why. Critically, it will be grounded in the reality of schools, colleges, and communities and will seek to understand the views of teachers, leaders, communities, families, and children and young people themselves in order to explore why white working class young people persistently underperform in education.

Deep dives: a local perspective on social mobility

A report by Public First takes a 'deep dive' into public perceptions and experiences of social mobility for the Social Mobility Commission.

Calculating the positive impact of international students on domestic living standards in the UK

Data centre access and local economic growth: Public First research with NVIDIA shows how AI investments can drive growth across the UK

Data centre access and local economic growth

Data centre access and local economic growth: Public First research with NVIDIA shows how AI investments can drive growth across the UK

The impact of water scarcity on the economy

A new Public First report for Water UK looks at the economic cost of water scarcity as a blocker on commercial development in England. In areas of the country, we are already seeing the limiting impacts of water scarcity on development; and with the commercial growth in water intensive industries, rising temperatures and population increase the problem is only growing. Insufficient water is putting breaks on the development that is so desperately needed for growth.

‘There’s a lot of history here’: Local history, local heritage and local pride, in Coventry and across the UK

A new Public First report for the National Trust looks at how our local and national history and heritage - the stories we tell about ourselves and the historic buildings and landscapes we see around us - play a role in shaping how people feel about themselves and their communities.

Saving the British Dream: Investing in First Time Buyers for Economic Renewal

A new Public First report finds that supporting more young people to afford their first home is fundamental to boosting housebuilding rates and reducing generational inequalities.

Why building more homes of all types helps first time buyers

New Public First research finds the best approach to making homes more affordable is to build more higher value homes as part of a wider policy of building more homes of all types and sizes.

The Social Value of Tourism

New research published today by VisitEngland demonstrates the positive cultural and social impacts that tourism has on local communities across the UK.

Global talent, local growth: the export and jobs benefit of international students in the UK

New Public First analysis explores the export and jobs benefits of international students in the UK

Unlocking the £200 Billion AI Opportunity

Our new report from Google and Public First, AI Works, explores how targeted, practical training can dramatically boost adoption and unlock productivity benefits right across the economy.

The Health Mandate: What voters really think about health and the role of government

The Health Mandate is a major new report from Public First and IPPR. It shows that the public’s concern about the nation’s health goes far beyond access to NHS services and deep into the social and economic pressures shaping everyday life.

Green Shoots and Grass Roots: Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools Phase 3

Teenage mental health could be on the mend, as new research reveals a sharp decline in distress and signs of recovery from the pandemic’s impact.

How National Development Management Policies Can Boost Economic Growth

To boost economic growth and housebuilding rates over the next few years, the Government should use its existing planning powers to set clearer rules for development.

New research exposes extent of regional gaps in higher education aspirations

Past lessons, future vision – evolving state-funded tutoring for the future

A new report released today by Public First sets out a blueprint for a successful state-funded tutoring provision, following a comprehensive and critical review of the lessons learned from the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) and 16-19 Tuition Fund.

Public First joins Stonehaven Group to bolster international economics and policy expansion

Public First has agreed to join Stonehaven Global Holdings ltd (‘SHGH’) to help turbocharge its international reach.

Defence, debt, and difficult decisions — new polling published today in the FT

As the Chancellor stares down the barrel of a tough Spring Statement, Public First and consultancy Stonehaven have been running a major new research project called The Era of Hard Choices.

Who’s Using AI at Work?

AI-powered tools have the potential to transform workplaces, but our research shows that their adoption is far from uniform.

Digital Nomads – How many, why and does it matter?

To research the digital nomad trend Public First combined polling, modelling, and a new approach to opinion research - ‘immersive’ research.

Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods

Public First worked with the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods to conduct opinion research around public attitudes to the state of the neighbourhoods.

How Young People Feel About Careers in News and Sport Media

New polling shows that 52% of young people are interested in a career in news and sport media

Private capital and the UK’s productivity gap

New analysis by Public First for BVCA shows how much bigger the UK's economy could be if all businesses matched the productivity growth of those backed by private capital.

Polling on US Tariffs

Public First polling of 2,000 American voters looks at public attitudes to the use of tariffs as an economic policy tool.

Gen Z Deep Dive with The Times

Public First worked with the Times to undertake qualitative research into the attitudes of Gen Z, looking at themes like war, pride in country, hybrid working and attitudes to drugs and alcohol.

Polling on Education Priorities in the Spending Review

New polling explores priorities ahead of the spending review

The trends that shaped the Paris AI Action Summit. And what comes next!

Behind the conclusions of the Paris AI Safety Summit were a number of trends that not only defined the outcome of the summit, but give us a preview of what the years ahead hold as Governments re-evaluate the global approach to AI Safety and governance.

Teachers need urgent support to tackle conspiracy theories in the classroom, landmark study finds.

Children in primary schools should be taught to recognise and resist online misinformation and conspiracy theories, according to a landmark study.   

Unlocking AI’s potential for Union workers

AI has the potential to transform workplaces across the UK, driving productivity and efficiency gains worth billions. But for many unionised workers, AI remains an unfamiliar tool—one they rarely use or see as relevant to their jobs.

Public First research used by Chancellor to drive new OxCam growth strategy

Public First’s research for the OxCam supercluster found that the region, which spans Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford, has an almost unrivalled per capita performance - in patents, scientific publications, human capital, start-up quality.

Lessons from the ground: our immersive research in 2024

A look at some of the key lessons we have learned from our immersive research in 2024

How Would We Know If Democracy Had Died?

Public First worked with BBC Radio 4 on a war game to see how young voters would respond to a national crisis if they were the Cabinet.

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

New polling from Public First shows that the public’s views on the quality of their local public services do reflect local realities, though it varies by the service.

The Shoplifting Capital of England

New research by the policy consultancy Public First highlights the scale of the shoplifting crisis facing retailers across the country - and the hotspots where the problem has become most acute.

Nothing Happens In Isolation

Commissioned by Mission 44, Public First conducted research into the challenge of increasing exclusions in state schools to understand the views of students, parents, and teachers alike.

Focus Group with the New Statesman: Perceptions of the Labour Government

This week, Public First held a focus group for the New Statesman with 10 working-class voters in the Tudor Rose pub in Sittingbourne.

Save the Children – Child Lock Campaign

New economic modelling and focus groups for Save the Children’s child poverty campaign

New partnership with The Wellbeing Hub to support the ongoing with of the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools

The Wellbeing Hub from Teen Tips Ltd has partnered with Public First to support the ongoing work of the Coalition for Youth Mental Health in Schools. We are supporting the Coalition and The Wellbeing Hub to provide expertise, insight, support, and possible solutions to the mental health crisis in schools.

The case for inclusive planning

Public First has worked with Leeds Building Society to explore how the planning system could be reformed to better represent broader public opinion rather than vocal minorities.

New Polling on Foreign Direct Investment into Britain

Public First conducted polling on Foreign Direct Investment into Britain in advance of the Government's Investment Summit. We asked respondents a series of questions about their views towards foreign investments, the perceived benefits of FDI, and whether they think Britain's position as an investment destination is improving or deteriorating.

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