The Creative Engine: How Media & Entertainment Powers the UK’s Creative Economy

Public First has published research commissioned by the BBC on the economic impact of PSBs to the UK's creative sector, where the overall impact is £29bn in GVA to the economy

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.

How large-scale events can trigger national pride across the UK

A new report produced by Public First and Spirit of 2012, explores how national events shape our sense of pride and identity.

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.

Port Talbot Immersive Research: A Job for Life

Public First carried out an extended immersive research study in Port Talbot in December 2024. Researchers spent a week living in the town, engaging with residents in an attempt to understand how the recent closure of the steelworks’ last blast furnace- as well as decades of uncertainty - has impacted them. This report, A Job for Life, summarises findings from that research.

The AI Opportunity in Asia Pacific

AI is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform economic growth, innovation and scientific progress.  In a new major project commissioned by Google, we’ve worked to explore in more depth the range of opportunities AI creates for countries across the Asia-Pacific region - and steps Governments can take to maximise them. Today, we’re publishing the first output of the research: a summary of some of the opportunities shared across the region.

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.

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  

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. 

From risk to resilience: The case for flood-resilient communities, economy and growth

From risk to resilience: The case for flood-resilient communities, economy and growth sets out new Public First economic and opinion research on the impact of flooding with immediate recommendations for policymakers.

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 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.

The Clean Growth Commission

Making the Industrial Strategy work: ensuring that government's new Strategy is the engine of growth and investment for the UK.

Sustainability Sentiment Tracker 2024/5

Today Public First launches the latest Sustainability Sentiment Tracker with 5 lessons for businesses in 2025.

Game Changing: How sport makes us happier, healthier and better connected.

Public First conducted new polling into attitudes of UK adults on Sport and Sport Broadcasting in the UK.

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.

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.

Save the Children – Child Lock Campaign

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

Primark’s impact on the UK economy and communities

Public First has worked with Primark to measure their impact in the UK, where they have over 190 stores across our towns and cities.

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.

Adding Value, Delivering Growth: the final report of the Public First/BVCA Investment Commission

Public First worked with BVCA to convene the Investment Commission, bringing together a range of experts - people who represent investors, portfolio companies, academics, think tanks and business groups - to help us to understand the most important barriers that face both those seeking to invest in the UK, and those seeking to attract investment.

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.

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.

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

Great British Energy: From pledge to reality

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

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.

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.

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.

Immersive Technology in the UK’s Public Sector

Public First has worked with Meta and techUK to produce a new report on the immersive tech sector across the UK. The research reflects Public First’s independent findings from a series of industry workshops hosted in Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester, along with new public opinion polling and expert interviews. 

Google’s Impact in the UK 2023

Public First has produced a new report quantifying the economic impact of a range of Google services in the UK, and exploring the economic and social potential offered by AI more broadly for the economy across the country.

How can we make fiscal decisions that work for the people?

The UK is stuck as a low-investment country. Both state and private investment have continually failed to reach the levels of other countries in the G7 or OECD. We need a more politically robust way to make fiscal interventions and start tackling the UK’s underinvestment.

Public First research into the university student experience – Student Futures 2

New research for the UPP Foundation Student Futures Commission highlights the affordability crisis for students and the impact on engagement.

Fuelling Fairness: Five years of the energy price cap

New report by Public First for Octopus Energy assesses the impact of the energy price cap on consumers and competition