Projects Environment and Net Zero Domestic Retrofit: Driving Green Growth and Social Equity The transition to net zero presents a critical opportunity to reconsider the way in which our economy operates, especially in the context of stagnating productivity and economic growth in recent years. This project will focus on the housing sector and will explore the evidence for investment in retrofit being a mechanism through which wider benefits […] Read more Topics: Economy Net Zero August 8, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Practices of effective knowledge mobilisation The Wales Centre for Public Policy is a knowledge brokering organisation that mobilises evidence to inform policy and public service practice. While the benefits of evidence-informed policy making and practice are persuasive, the extent to which they have been achieved is contested. Both require effective approaches to knowledge mobilisation, particularly at the local level where […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs August 5, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Leading evidence mobilisation We conducted a literature review on the factors which determine the effectiveness of evidence centres. This highlighted leadership as a key influence on their success but revealed that there has been very little empirical analysis of what leaders of evidence centres actually do, the skills they need, and how they acquire them. To help address […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs August 5, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Impact of UK university policy engagement bodies Over the last decade, a plethora of bodies have emerged within universities in the UK and beyond that seek to broker evidence produced by their respective organisation to decision-makers. This phenomenon is linked with both the research impact agenda (for instance the Research Excellence Framework in the UK) and universities’ emphasis on civic missing and […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs August 5, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Co-production of research with policy makers and public services As a knowledge brokering organisation, our activities involve working closely with decision-makers to determine their evidence needs and what we can deliver for and with them to meet those needs. We became interested in whether the popular concept of co-production could explain how we work, especially with decision-makers at the local level, and help inform […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact August 5, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Academic experts’ experience of working with a KBO to mobilise evidence and engage with policy There is widespread belief that evidence use in policy making leads to more effective outcomes. However, various challenges associated with evidence-based policy making (EBPM) have been identified for both researchers and policy makers. There has been a call for research to be better designed and contextualised to respond to the challenge of a lack of […] Read more Topics: Using evidence Research and Impact: Impact July 30, 2025
Projects Research and Impact Embedded impact researcher Within the context of a wider focus on the impact of Knowledge Brokering Organisations (KBOs), the Wales Centre for Public Policy is committed to understanding and maximising its own impact. The Embedded Impact Researcher project aims to understand the relationship between the WCPP’s knowledge mobilisation practices and its impact on the use of evidence in […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact July 30, 2025
Projects Delivering probation services for Wales Building on the work carried out by WCPP on Building a Welsh probation service, the Welsh Government has recommissioned WCPP to carry out a follow-up project focusing on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) model of local co-commissioning of services, one of the three areas investigated in WCPP’s earlier research. The Welsh Government is particularly interested […] Read more July 30, 2025
Projects Sustainable local government for the future We have convened an independent working group on sustainable local government for the future. Read more July 30, 2025
Projects Environment and Net Zero Voluntary carbon markets Voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) are those in which carbon credits are voluntarily produced and traded for carbon offsetting purposes. Voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) can help developed countries achieve climate goals by reducing emissions and by funding nature-based solutions and mitigation activities. However, VCMs are unregulated and criticised for facilitating the transaction of low-quality carbon credits […] Read more July 30, 2025
Projects Welsh Government spending review In recent years, governments worldwide have been contending with a complex mixture of fiscal challenges, from responding to exceptional events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to mounting pressures on public spending from longer-term factors such as population ageing and the climate transition. This has resulted in a renewed international policy focus on fiscal sustainability, as […] Read more Topics: Governance July 30, 2025
Projects Tackling Inequalities Addressing poverty stigma in Swansea We are working with Swansea Council along with public sector practitioners, academics, experts by experience and community groups to develop local, evidence-based solutions to tackling poverty stigma in the area. Poverty stigma amplifies the effects of material hardship and makes it harder for people to escape poverty. Our policy briefing demonstrates that poverty stigma is […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities Employment Health inequalities Poverty and social exclusion July 30, 2025
Projects Success factors for contracting and awarding bus franchising in Wales In March 2025 the Welsh Government introduced a Bus Bill for Wales to give the public sector greater control over bus services, aiming to create a fully integrated, low-carbon, passenger-focused bus network as part of its wider One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket vision for public transport in Wales. Subject to Senedd approval, the legislation […] Read more July 30, 2025
Projects Tackling Inequalities Poverty Stigma Insight Network The Poverty Stigma Insight Network was established by WCPP in 2024 as is a UK-wide network of individuals and organisations who have the shared aim of seeking to better understand, prevent and address poverty stigma. Members include lived experience experts, policy makers, practitioners, researchers and academics. The Network is one strand of WCPP’s broader programme […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Local government Poverty and social exclusion January 10, 2025
Projects Research and Impact WCPP ESRC Policy Fellowship – Involving experts-by-experience in knowledge mobilisation Since November 2023, the ESRC has funded a Policy Fellow to be seconded to the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to enhance the understanding, capabilities, and skills of knowledge brokering organisations in involving people with lived experience in our work. The Fellowship is an 18-month collaboration between the Fellow (Dr Rounaq Nayak), WCPP, and […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Promoting Equality Research and Impact: The role of KBOs August 13, 2024
Projects Tackling Inequalities Increasing access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children and families in Wales The Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ARWAP) identifies the importance of early childhood play, learning and care to child development, lifelong learning and social integration. Working with its Anti-racist Wales Action Plan Governance Group for Childcare, the Welsh Government identified the issue of uptake of early years childcare among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities July 11, 2024
Projects Tackling Inequalities Guidance for schools to support trans young people The Welsh Government published an LGBTQ+ Action Plan in February 2023, providing a framework for policy development across the Welsh Government and partners to support LGBTQ+ individuals within Wales. As part of the LGBTQ+ Action Plan, the Welsh Government committed to provide appropriate national guidance for schools and local authorities to support trans children and […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities May 1, 2024
Projects Tackling Inequalities Diversity in Recruitment The Welsh Government has asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to support its work on increasing the proportion of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and disabled people who are appointed, in order to correct a current under-representation in the Welsh Government workforce. In particular, the Welsh Government is interested in the following areas […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government January 16, 2024
Projects Environment and Net Zero A local authority-led transition to net zero The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) is coordinating a climate change transition and recovery support programme to meet the overall target for the public sector to reach net zero by 2030 and the interim targets outlined in the Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2 (2021-25). Local government has a crucial role to play in leading […] Read more Topics: Energy Local government Net Zero December 7, 2023
Projects Tackling Inequalities International approaches to population ageing and decline Trends in fertility and mortality have resulted in an increasing excess of deaths over birth since 2015/16 in Wales. The Total Fertility Rate in Wales fell below the replacement rate (of 2.1) in 1974 and has remained there since, standing at just 1.5 births per woman in 2021. Based on past trends, the Welsh population […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment, work and skills November 8, 2023
Projects Tackling Inequalities Poverty Stigma Our recent research on the lived experience of poverty and social exclusion in Wales highlighted the importance of tackling poverty stigma – both because poverty stigma harms the mental health of people in poverty, and because it can make it harder for them to get the support they need or participate in their communities. In response […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Local government Poverty and social exclusion October 20, 2023
Projects Tackling Inequalities Equity in tertiary education Post-compulsory learning is associated with a range of positive life outcomes, such as enhanced employment opportunities, increased earnings and improved wellbeing. However, evidence suggests that there are inequalities in access to, progression within, and outcomes from tertiary education among different groups. To address these inequalities and to provide a whole-system approach to post-compulsory education, the […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Education inequalities Poverty and social exclusion October 9, 2023
Projects Community Wellbeing The role of multisectoral collaboration in supporting community action The Wales Centre for Public Policy and the Resourceful Communities Partnership (RCP) are working together on a research project aimed at better understanding the role of multisectoral collaboration in supporting community action that enhances wellbeing. The project involves two phases: 1) A review of evidence published since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic on the […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Local government September 25, 2023
Projects Environment and Net Zero Net Zero 2035 The current target date to reach net zero is 2050. The Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru Cooperation Agreement committed to ‘commission independent advice to examine potential pathways to net zero by 2035’. In response to this the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group was formed, chaired by former minister Jane Davidson. The group looked at […] Read more Topics: Energy Housing and homes Just Transition Net Zero April 26, 2023
Projects Research and Impact Examining the Impact of the What Works Network The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) has been awarded ESRC funding to continue examining and developing the impact of the What Works Network. This work builds on previous Centre projects such as on implementation and on impact. This new project focuses on the following research questions: What counts as impact and what are the […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact The role of KBOs April 4, 2023
Projects Community Wellbeing Well-being plan workshops for Public Services Boards Public Services Boards (PSBs) are required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to produce local well-being plans every five years, on the basis of an assessment of well-being needs in their local areas, setting out well-being objectives and proposed steps to meet them. Following from our previous work in 2021 providing briefings […] Read more Topics: Local government February 23, 2023
Projects Community Wellbeing Defining, measuring, and monitoring democratic health in Wales ‘Democracy’ is seen as an ideal system of government, because it confers power and legitimacy to political actors and institutions only to the extent that it represents the ‘will of the people’. To those that seek to govern, they must be able to show that the have the support of those who are to be […] Read more Topics: Governance Local government November 25, 2022
Projects Community Wellbeing Blended Services Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, public and third sector organisations supporting community wellbeing have relied on a mixture of remote and face-to-face methods for delivering services and engaging with the people they support. While surrounding debate can sometimes focus on the strengths and weaknesses of digital ‘versus’ face-to-face provision in a binary way, emergent in the […] Read more Topics: Community collaboration Loneliness August 30, 2022
Projects Environment and Net Zero Modelling carbon emissions in Wales The combination of increasing global demand for energy and strict carbon emissions targets have made the decision-making process around acquiring and using energy complex. In the context of the Net Zero by 2050 commitment, the UK and devolved governments are interested in understanding the emissions implications of policy decisions and the interrelationships between them. WCPP […] Read more Topics: Energy Net Zero November 17, 2021
Projects Environment and Net Zero Decarbonising Wales: Energy, Industry, Land Following the Welsh Government’s pledge to meet net zero emissions by 2050 and the outcome of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, it is clear that efforts to decarbonise our economy and society will be ever more important to public policy and debate in the years and decades to come. But while we know where we […] Read more Topics: Economy Energy Net Zero November 17, 2021
Projects Tackling Inequalities Supporting the Welsh lifelong learning system Plans in Wales for a new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, and the introduction of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill to the Senedd, represent a shake-up to how higher and further education is governed and organised in Wales. As part of this, the WCPP have been asked to contribute a review of […] Read more Topics: Economy Education inequalities November 17, 2021
Projects Community Wellbeing Children looked after The substantial and sustained increase in the rate of children in care in Wales over the past 25 years has been a source of policy concern Wales has seen a rise in both the number and rate of children looked after. The rate is now higher than any time since the 1980s. In addition, Wales […] Read more Topics: Lived experience Poverty and social exclusion October 21, 2021
Projects Reform of Electoral Law and Practice Elections were devolved to Wales through the Government of Wales Act 2017. Since then, Welsh Ministers have embarked on a programme of electoral reform most noted by the extension of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds and qualifying foreign citizens for Senedd and local government elections. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act also provided […] Read more Topics: Local government June 21, 2021
Projects Community Wellbeing Well-being briefings for Public Services Boards Public Services Boards (PSBs) are required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to produce well-being assessments every five years, in line with local authority elections. These assessments should capture the state of well-being in local authority areas, in terms of economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being; and lead to objectives to improve […] Read more Topics: Local government Loneliness June 14, 2021
Projects Tackling Inequalities Education attainment: Responding to the Coronavirus pandemic The Coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated existing educational inequalities worldwide. Modelling of the impact of school closures in England suggests that ten years’ worth of efforts to close the attainment gap may have been reversed by the recent closure of schools. Similarly, assessments of Year 7 pupils in England in September 2020 found that they were […] Read more Topics: Education inequalities December 15, 2020
Projects Tackling Inequalities Disabled Facilities Grants: Changing the means test The Minister for Housing and Local Government asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy to explore the implications of removing the means test for small and medium Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). DFGs are means-tested grants for owner-occupiers and tenants (private or social) who are disabled to help towards the costs of making their home accessible. […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion December 15, 2020
Projects Community Wellbeing Connecting Communities: Building Relationships The Wales Centre for Public Policy is partnering with Cardiff Council and Social Care Wales on a four-month National Institute for Health Research funded project to increase links between the council, public health, and academia. The project will explore the mechanisms, relationships and networks needed to support and fund high quality research engagement in Cardiff. […] Read more Topics: Local government Loneliness December 3, 2020
Projects Remote working and the Welsh economy The Welsh economy is experiencing a profound and unprecedented shock as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. One of the consequences of lockdowns and public health restrictions has been requiring people to work from home where they are able to. UK data suggests that while just 5 per cent of workers worked from home prior […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment, work and skills December 2, 2020
Projects Community Wellbeing Alternative models of domiciliary care Domiciliary care or ‘homecare’ is social care provided in people’s homes and includes a range of support such as help with daily tasks, personal care and help with mobilising. Domiciliary care faces a number of longstanding challenges including funding, market fragility, demographic changes and workforce stability. The provision of high-quality homecare is central to realising […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities December 2, 2020
Projects Environment and Net Zero Towards a just transition in Wales There has been a resurgence of awareness, among both the public and policymakers, in tackling climate change since early 2019. In Wales, the Welsh Government’s declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ in April 2019 has indicated a renewed commitment to decarbonisation. Decarbonisation poses a range of challenges for governments, businesses and communities. Although there is widespread […] Read more Topics: Just Transition Net Zero December 2, 2020
Projects Tackling Inequalities Raising the age of participation in education or training to 18 in Wales In England, the compulsory age of participation in education or training was raised to 17 in 2013 and then 18 in 2015. In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the school leaving age is 16. The idea of raising the age of participation in education or training is gaining traction in the Scottish context, as well […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment, work and skills December 2, 2020
Projects Tackling Inequalities Poverty and social exclusion review The Welsh Government has consistently held addressing poverty and social exclusion as a primary policy objective and has initiated a variety of related schemes since devolution. These have included overarching strategies, such as the Welsh Child Poverty Strategy, to more specific policies and interventions across a range of poverty and social exclusion-related policy areas, such […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion December 2, 2020
Projects Community Wellbeing Post-Brexit migration and Wales The UK Government plans to end free movement of people to the UK from EU countries and the proposed Immigration Bill will have significant implications for Wales’ economy, society and population. The WCPP has been exploring the likely impacts of post-Brexit migration policies on Wales to identify a range of ways in which the Welsh […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment, work and skills December 2, 2020
Projects Brexit and the NHS workforce As part of the EU Transition Support Fund Grant received from the Welsh Government, the Welsh NHS Confederation commissioned the Wales Centre for Public Policy to analyse the likely effects on the health and social care workforce, which staff groups might be most affected, and the implications for the long-term workforce strategy for health and […] Read more Topics: Economy Employment, work and skills December 2, 2020
Projects The implications of the European transition for key economic sectors The European Union is the most economically valuable international trading partner for Wales and the UK, accounting for 43% and 52% of total UK exports and imports respectively in 2019. Following its exit from the EU, the UK Government has started to negotiate free trade agreements with the EU and with other countries around the […] Read more Topics: Economy December 2, 2020
Projects Community Wellbeing Loneliness in Wales Loneliness has a significant impact on public health and wellbeing, and has been a priority issue for Welsh Government and public services across Wales since before the Coronavirus pandemic. Addressing loneliness has relied on strategies and initiatives to increase the quality of people’s social contacts. Social distancing and shielding to slow the spread of the […] Read more Topics: Loneliness Poverty and social exclusion November 26, 2020
Projects Tackling Inequalities Increasing diversity in public appointments In early 2020 the Welsh Government released ‘Reflecting Wales in Running Wales’ (Welsh Government, 2020), its strategy for increasing diversity in public appointments in Wales. The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy to support the implementation of the strategy through two projects: A rapid evidence review of recruitment practices […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Local government November 10, 2020
Projects Community Wellbeing Optimising Outcomes from Procurement and Partnering for Covid-19 and Beyond: Lessons from the Crisis Procurement accounts for £100bn (47%) of local authority (LA) spending (IoG,2018). Leveraging these resources to the greatest social and economic effect is now crucial in promoting an agile crisis response, maintaining community resilience and helping local businesses stay afloat. Emergent literatures indicate that innovation to leverage procurement for additional positive-sum value is both necessary and […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities Local government November 6, 2020
Projects Tackling Inequalities Race equality rapid evidence review The Welsh Government has made a commitment to publish a Race Equality Action Plan designed to tackle structural racial and ethnic inequalities in Wales. The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to undertake evidence reviews to inform the development of the Action Plan across six key policy areas: […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion Poverty and social exclusion September 9, 2020
Projects Environment and Net Zero How to encourage driver adherence to 20mph consistent with road safety The Welsh Government is proposing to introduce a default speed limit of 20mph on all residential roads in Wales as part of a suite of measures to promote ‘liveable’ communities. 20mph limits have been implemented in many places in the UK but not on a national scale. A substantial shift in driver behaviour will be […] Read more Topics: Energy Local government June 11, 2020
Projects Environment and Net Zero Local Institutions, Productivity, Sustainability and Inclusivity Trade-offs (LIPSIT) Local Institutions, Productivity, Sustainability and Inclusivity Trade-offs (LIPSIT) was an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) funded collaborative project. The project explored the institutional and organisational arrangements at the regional level that lead to the ‘good’ management of policy trade-offs associated with increasing productivity, and made recommendations based on this. These trade-offs are between productivity growth, inclusivity and sustainability. They arise because authorities have limited resources and have to prioritise: policies […] Read more Topics: Economy Energy Net Zero June 4, 2020
Projects Developing implementation across the What Works network Building on our work to increase the impact of the What Works network across the UK, the Wales Centre for Public Policy has won funding from the ESRC to work with Professor Jonathan Sharples at EEF and other What Works Centres to apply the latest thinking and evidence on implementation – how evidence is used […] Read more Topics: Local government March 20, 2020
Projects Strengthening the Economic Resilience of the Welsh Economy The concept of economic resilience has gained prominence in the decade since the financial crisis of 2008/09, raising interest as to why some economies appear more able to withstand economic shocks, or to recover more strongly, than others. This is particularly pertinent in the current climate of economic uncertainty. In 2019, the Minister for Economy […] Read more Topics: Economy November 13, 2019
Projects Public sector leadership development – existing provision and international approach The First Minister wants an independent assessment of how Welsh public services can ensure that leadership development for their staff equips current and future leaders to be effective. This is to ensure that future leaders have broad experience from across the public sector, as well as the skills and behaviours to respond to current and […] Read more Topics: Local government November 1, 2019
Projects Options for sustainable Welsh fisheries and fishing stocks management post-devolution The Welsh Government are preparing their approach to fisheries for if/when the UK leaves the European Union. They are particularly interested in future opportunities, including both quota and non-quota limits, to achieve their ‘fair share’ of allocation and to manage fish stocks for the benefit of coastal communities in Wales. This also sits in with […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government November 1, 2019
Projects Research and Impact The impact of the Wales Centre for Public Policy on policymakers views and use of evidence in Wales The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) is a knowledge brokering organisation. Its primary aim is to enhance processes of public policy making, public service design and provision, by promoting a culture and mindset of evidence use. It works with academics and experts to provide Welsh Government and public services in Wales with high quality […] Read more Research and Impact: Impact November 1, 2019
Projects Research and Impact What are Knowledge Brokering Organisations? There has been a significant growth in the number of evidence intermediaries or knowledge brokering organisations sitting between research and government and seeking to bridge the perceived 'gap' between evidence and policy. Their proliferation has been fuelled by the key assumption of the evidence-informed policymaking (EIPM) movement: that more evidence will lead to better policy. […] Read more Research and Impact: The role of KBOs November 1, 2019
Projects Welsh councils’ perceptions of austerity Drawing on interviews with Welsh council leaders, chief executives, finance directors, and external stakeholders, this study explores Welsh councils’ responses to austerity. We find that councils have responded to austerity in three main ways: by making efficiency savings; by reducing the need for council services; and by changing the role played by councils and other […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government April 10, 2019
Projects Implications of UK migration policy on the Welsh economy after Brexit Building on our previous work looking into immigration policy after Brexit, this project focuses on the likely impact of UK Government migration policies on the Welsh economy. Specifically, we’re working with Professor Jonathan Portes from Kings College London to model the impacts of the recommendations from the 2018 Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) report and subsequent […] Read more Topics: Economy Local government April 10, 2019
Projects Tackling Inequalities Public Engagement on Health and Social Care Transformation This project develops how the commitments to public engagement in the Welsh Government’s A Healthier Wales plan can be best realised in practice. The question we’re helping to answer is: what role does public engagement play in achieving the outcomes stated in the plan? Our approach involves a combination of evidence reviews and workshops. The evidence […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities March 6, 2019
Projects How can policy commissions maximise their impact? In this short project, we examined the question ‘what makes a Welsh Government Commission effective?’ What impact can they have upon devolved policy making and public services? And in Westminster and Whitehall? Is it possible to distill critical success factors? The work was intended to inform the work of the Commission on the Future of […] Read more Topics: Local government August 21, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Supporting improvement in health boards Trying to prevent or turnaround underperformance in health organisations is a challenging task, and much of the academic literature is focused on general and abstract discussions. This project synthesises expert academic and practitioner knowledge about what is effective, and under what conditions, in supporting health boards. Understanding how to intervene effectively is salient to both […] Read more Topics: Health inequalities August 21, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Responding to citizens in debt to public services This project aimed to find out how public services and their contracted partners in Wales might better respond to vulnerable debtors, especially those subject to prosecution and prison. Our primary focus is on two forms of debt that Welsh public services have some control over – council tax debts, and rent arrears to government and […] Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion August 21, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Maximising universities’ civic contribution This project explored potential policy options to encourage Welsh universities to prioritise and increase their civic contributions to Welsh communities overall social and economic wellbeing. The report, which can be viewed here, reviewed the approaches to civic missions internationally, as well as the implications for Wales in light of the domestic policy context. For more […] Read more Topics: Economy Education inequalities August 21, 2018
Projects Environment and Net Zero Strategies and technologies in improving air quality The project is a rapid review of measures in place worldwide to improve air quality. It indicates the evidence behind different strategies and technologies for addressing air pollution and provides case studies of cities which rank highly for air quality. Read more Topics: Economy Energy Net Zero August 21, 2018
Projects Increasing the Impact of the What Works Network across the UK The Wales Centre for Public Policy has worked with What Works Scotland, Queen’s University Belfast, the Alliance for Useful Evidence and a range of What Works Centres to increase the impact of the What Works network across the UK, in an ESRC-funded project. The project involved running a series of summits for policymakers and public […] Read more Topics: Local government August 20, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Rural Poverty in Wales The Welsh Government has identified Rural Poverty as a priority area for evidence, and our own preliminary analysis of existing research confirmed that there is a need for better evidence to address this important issue. Read more Topics: Poverty and social exclusion June 13, 2018
Projects Evidence for Welsh Public Service Leaders on Public Procurement Mobilising the power of procurement is a growing area of interest. The Welsh public sector spends approximately £6 billion annually on goods, services and works, however it is widely believed that there is room for public services to achieve greater added value from this spend through strategic approaches to procurement. This has been a recurrent […] Read more Topics: Local government June 7, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Gender Equality in Wales Ministers have asked the Wales Centre for Public Policy to conduct three pieces of work that provide independent evidence and expertise to inform the Gender Equality Review (GER), commissioned by the then First Minister in 2018: An international review of gender equality policies and practices; An expert workshop to explore what Wales can learn about […] Read more Topics: Diversity and inclusion May 11, 2018
Projects Improving Impact Assessments The cynic’s caricature of impact assessments is that they are post hoc rationalisations of policy decisions that have already been made. But where they are used effectively, they can help to inform and shape policy, and to support effective scrutiny of the decisions made in that process. We were asked by the First Minister to […] Read more Topics: Local government April 26, 2018
Projects Tackling Inequalities Improving Health and Employment Outcomes Whilst unemployment is currently low in Wales relative to past decades, economic inactivity due to ill health remains high. In recognition of this, the Welsh Government is keen to support people to stay in and return to work. Evidence suggests that the most effective way to do this is to provide support that integrates health […] Read more Topics: Economy Health inequalities April 26, 2018
Projects Determining the Tax Base in Wales WCPP was asked by the Chief Economist and Treasury officials in the Welsh Government, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, to undertake a high-level review of the strength of the Welsh tax base. The review analysed the scale and the sustainability of the tax base supporting the major devolved revenue-raising […] Read more Topics: Economy April 26, 2018
Projects Improving Cross-cutting Government Working The Welsh Government’s national strategy “Prosperity for All” seeks to “drive integration and collaboration across the Welsh Public Sector”, and First Minister Carwyn Jones has emphasised that the strategy’s commitments should be delivered in a “smarter, more joined up way that cuts across traditional boundaries.” The challenge to improve coordination across policy areas and public […] Read more Topics: Local government April 26, 2018
Projects Environment and Net Zero Future of Work in Wales In his speech to the 2016 Labour Party conference the First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Carwyn Jones, called for a “deep and thorough investigation into the changing nature of work”. To prepare the ground for this, we were asked to review the existing evidence base to explore what is known and is not yet […] Read more Topics: Employment, work and skills April 26, 2018
Projects Environment and Net Zero Approaches to Enabling Job Progression in Key Foundational Sectors Foundation sectors of the economy provide the essential goods and services for everyday life, such as utilities, food processing, retail and distribution, health, education, welfare, social care, and infrastructure provision. While we rely on the services they produce, it is often difficult for people working in these sectors to improve their incomes and quality of […] Read more Topics: Employment, work and skills April 26, 2018
Projects Environment and Net Zero Tackling Inequalities Youth Homelessness Prevention Pathways Tackling homelessness, and reducing the risk of homelessness for young people in particular, is a priority for the Welsh Government. At the launch of the End Youth Homelessness Cymru (EYHC) coalition in 2017, the First Minister announced that he would ask us to research the causes and effective prevention of youth homelessness. We are undertaking […] Read more Topics: Housing and homes April 26, 2018
Projects Environment and Net Zero Brexit and Wales - Land and Sea This project explores the potential implications of Brexit on fisheries, agriculture, and rural areas in Wales. Read more Topics: Local government February 13, 2018
