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.

What the UK public thinks about Opera

Public First has published the results of research, commissioned by the Laidlaw Opera Trust, looking into UK public attitudes towards opera.

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

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.

Public First Government Missions Tracker

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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"

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.