The Future Governance Forum (FGF)

🎉We’re hiring 🎉 The Future Governance Forum is looking for a new Head of Policy and Research to join us on a permanent basis in our London office. We want to hear from you if you've got: ✅ Significant experience working in a senior policy-related role ✅ An in-depth knowledge of contemporary public policy debates ✅ A passion for developing high quality, practical research that delivers real impact. Full Job ad: futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/wp-content/upl… Deadline: Midnight on Wednesday 3rd June To apply: Please send your CV along with a covering letter of no more than two pages to hello@futuregovernanceforum.co.uk summarising why you are suitable for the role and how you meet the person specification. We discourage use of AI in applications.

🚨NEW JOB ALERT! @FutureGovForum have a brilliant role now open - Head of Policy and Research! You will lead the delivery of strategic research projects set out in their 3 year strategy, ensuring their work is underpinned by highly quality research. Apply: bit.ly/4wGR8CT

We need a new Head of Policy & Research at @FutureGovForum - full details and info on how to apply via our website (link in comments)

🫅 While the political significance of the King’s Speech continues to be pored over, the FGF team have looked at the legislative content to see if what has been set out can rise to the challenges we face as a country. ❓What were the most significant proposals announced? ❓Where does the programme show real ambition? ❓Where does it remain overly cautious? ❓And ultimately, does it promise the kind of transformation required to renew the nation? 🚨Spoiler alert: While 35 new bills indicate a clear sense of ambition from the government, there are still major questions around the mechanics of delivery. Read more: futuregovforum.substack.com/p/the-kings-sp…

📉 Do the UK’s fiscal rules need to change? 📉 No set of #FiscalRules or fiscal institutions will ever be perfect. So it’s important that we keep questioning them. Today we’re publishing our evidence to the Lords Economic Committee, which sets out several ways to improve the current approach. Our suggestions include: ✅ Moving away from fixed numeric targets towards more judgement-based decisions, allowing greater flexibility and responsiveness to the economic cycle, and reducing the tendency to fixate on short-term fiscal headroom ✅ Creating a distinct ‘preventative’ category of spending, with the fiscal rules targeting a balanced budget in the current spending category, potentially excluding those prevention budgets ✅ Implementing greater fiscal devolution so that not all the strain is being taken by the centre Check out Chief Economist Dan Corry’s blog for more: 👇 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/do-the-uks-f…

🚂What’s happening to Britain’s railways? 🚂 When the government nationalises the railway next year, it will become the second biggest public employer after the NHS.🎉 ✅So, how can we make sure Great British Railways (GBR) is set up for success? At FGF, we’re looking into this. We want to highlight the big strategic choices that need to be made – and the trade-offs that these will entail – as this major new state institution is created. This means answering key questions like: -What sort of culture needs to be instilled in GBR and how can it define its purpose in a crystal clear way? - What sort of frameworks, relationships and regulatory powers need to be in place to ensure it can operate effectively? - How should GBR engage with mayors – and can this be done on trust alone, or might we need something more formal in place? -How do we balance the creation of a new centralised GBR with the trend towards ever more autonomy and power at local and regional level? Getting this design right is not only about building a great new rail system. It’s about showing what a modern, progressive approach to one of our great public services is, and how we can apply that approach elsewhere to (re)build public institutions that are fit for the future. And read @izdoesrail's blog for more information: 👇👇 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/whats-happen…

🎉We’re delighted to be launching the first report from our Social Insights Panel in the House of Lords this afternoon 🎉 The report argues that we need a mindset shift on how #PublicServices are delivered if we want to make them truly preventative. Here’s @pollyn1, chair of the panel, giving a few more details on the findings. 👇Full report below👇 futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/six-w…

🎉 New report out today 🎉 – FGF's Social Insights Panel is launching its first report exploring why a mindset shift is needed if we want to make #PublicServices truly preventative. The panel brings together a network of civil society experts including @pollyn1, @MsIbegbuna, @carolineslocock, and others, to think about how we can solve some of society's toughest challenges. Today’s report argues for a fundamental mindset shift in how public services work. They found that without trust, a sense of belonging, shared identity and strong relationships, people will not seek help early in the first place. So we’ve identified six mindset shifts which we believe will make public services truly preventative. 📜Explore them all in our new report published today. Coverage: civilsociety.co.uk/voices/polly-n… Full report: futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/six-w…

“Progressives need the same ambition as the right to use our worldview to shape the future. Not through naive idealism, but through credible and pragmatic use of power, rooted in progressive values.” ✈️Over the weekend, FGF’s @BGardinerSmith travelled to Barcelona for the @GPMobilisation conference 💪What was so striking, she says, was the confidence with which social democratic and liberal values were being promoted – and how different this feels from much of the debate in the UK. 💭This led to a question: is our so-called ‘migration crisis’ really just a crisis of progressive imagination? A lack of ambition to revitalise our global framework in order to meet the challenges of today. 👇Read Beth’s article to hear more: @futuregovforum/note/p-194938937?r=4igfoq&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">substack.com/@futuregovforu…

📅The one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s gender ruling must serve as an opportunity for a course correction at the @EHRC. Having struggled to navigate this increasingly febrile debate, the #EHRC has been unable to shake off accusations of political bias and criticism over its lack of visibility on other important issues. With growing calls for the EHRC to be scrapped altogether – and with a new chair recently in post – now is the time for organisational change to strengthen this vital institution. We think there are three ways to achieve this. Watch Hamida Ali’s video to find out what they are 👇👇 And read FGF's full report here: futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/vital…

🎉New Project Alert🎉 Excited to be working with Kinship Works on a new project, supported by @BarrowCadbury. People are innovating all around the ‘edges’ of the civic sphere. And we can learn from this knowledge and experience to improve the way the centre governs. Our new project will map this energy at the edges and see what methods and innovations could be used more widely in government. If you have thoughts or examples you think we should look at, or if you’d like to explore partnering on this project, feel free to get in touch. And for more info on the project, read our Substack below 👇 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/re-energisin…

Writing for FGF, Hannah Gregory, Global Director, Knowledge and Sponsorship at @Pathways_Intl explores how a new model of Named Community Sponsorship could re-shape the #asylum system in the UK. The government has already committed to introducing this scheme. And designed well, it could do more than strengthen #refugee protection — it could devolve real decision-making over #migration from Whitehall to local communities. Read Hannah’s blog here 🔽 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/from-whiteha…

The UK needs a radical change of direction. After years of crisis, more muscular government could create the kind of bold and progressive action we need. But right now, the state itself is acting as an obstacle to that happening. Since launching in 2023, the Forum Governance Forum has dedicated itself to finding an answer to this problem: how can we transform the state, to renew the nation? And while many of our recommendations have already created tangible change – the task is far from finished. Over the next few years, we’ll be deepening our focus on state reform and examining three key areas: Firstly, how can we renew vital institutions and establish new ones, fit for the future and built to last? Secondly, how can we reimagine public services that are more responsive, reliable and better attuned to community needs? Thirdly, how can we rethink markets and unlock investment to help promote sustainable economic growth? Read more 🔽🔽🔽 futuregovforum.substack.com/p/transforming…

Our new ‘Reform and renewal of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’ report contains recommendations for big changes to the @EHRC Watch FGF’s Hamida Ali explain more🔽 futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/vital…