Nesta
We are Nesta, the research and innovation foundation. We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions across the innovation lifecycle. nesta.org.uk/newsletter
- AI could be the Trojan Horse for investing in the foundations of digital government. We share our five recommendations for what the government should do if they truly want to harness AI to reimagine the entire policymaking process ⤵️
- Obesity and excess weight cost the UK economy ~£31bn a year in lost productivity. Over a third comes from people leaving the labour market. New data show this burden isn’t evenly spread, with higher long-term sickness in the North West and North East. bit.ly/3M3U4XJ
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- The UK faces steep challenges: stagnant wages, a fraying public realm, and fractious politics. But these problems are all fixable with the right policy action. Join us to explore solutions with Nesta’s @acjsissons.bsky.social and economist John Springford. Register: bit.ly/3LUFIsC
- Join us for our next event exploring policy success stories and lessons for policymakers. This time, we're looking at what’s driving the rise in employment among prison leavers in England and Wales, with experts in prison reform and education. Register: bit.ly/4pSyXp6
- Most people want to eat healthier, but our food environment makes it hard. Policies can help, but we need a clear measure of ‘healthy food’. The Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) is evidence-backed, legally robust, and a valuable tool for shaping future policy.
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- What can we expect from the UK’s Warm Homes Plan? Join sector experts for a free lunchtime online event tomorrow to unpack the plan’s priorities on clean heating, energy efficiency & tackling fuel poverty. Sign up to receive the webinar link straight to your inbox ➡️ bit.ly/4a2Eq8e
- We’re in the middle of an electric revolution ⚡ Our CEO Ravi Gurumurthy explains how switching to electric heating can make homes more comfortable and sustainable while strengthening the UK’s energy independence. At Nesta, we’re working to make this transition easier & more affordable for all.
- The UK’s early years system can feel like a maze. At our upcoming online event, we're looking to the USA to explore a digital solution to the problem: First Five South Carolina. Join us at lunchtime on 20 Jan to hear about its impact and the lessons the UK can learn bit.ly/3ZhNb8c
- 🚀 2025 was the year space exploration ramped up. But what are the practical and ethical considerations for life in space - and even having babies away from Earth? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the technology and trends that could shape 2026. bit.ly/49kWBV3
- 📺 Smart appliances are bringing adverts into the heart of the home. As screens appear on fridges and washing machines, is 2026 the year our kitchens become the new commercial frontier? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️
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- 🤖 From virtual cabinet members in Albania to AI-governed islands, machines are moving into executive office. Is 2026 the year machines start to take the top roles in govt? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️ bit.ly/49ldqzn
- 🧭 Imagine a world without GPS: our phones, computers & cars all rely on it. But it can leave us vulnerable to shocks: is this the year quantum sensors help plot a safer course? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️
- 🚌 Is 2026 the year public-led design is put in the driving seat? In Shanghai, a customised bus system allows passengers to propose new routes, launching them within days once demand is met. Could the UK follow suit? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on emerging trends ⤵️
- ⏳ Sand is the foundation of every modern city, but it’s fuelling multi-million-pound organised crime. In 2026, we need better governance and innovation to protect this critical resource. Will we find a way? Read our Future Signal, part of our collection on the trends & tech that could shape 2026 ⤵️
- 🕳️ Britain’s roads are deteriorating faster than they can be patched: is 2026 the year when we see one of Britain’s most ordinary frustrations driving innovation? Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape the year ahead ⤵️
- 🤖 Is 2026 the year that data collectives - unions, trusts, mutuals and clubs - tilt the balance of power in cyberspace away from mega-platforms and towards the citizen? 🔮 Read our Future Signal, part of our annual collection on the trends and tech that could shape 2026: bit.ly/3YXtySG
- The UK's ban on unhealthy food ads starts this week, but it’s full of holes 🍫🍟 Loopholes allow brand-wide ads, while billboards and social media are exempt. Our research shows stronger rules could cut obesity by 16%. Read Nesta’s new blog on why the ban falls short:
- What lies ahead for 2026? 🔮 It’s time for Nesta’s Future Signals. Every year we scan the horizon to show the shape of things to come, using data points, observations or sector insights. This year? Politicians powered by AI, space exploration gathering pace and new tech hiding in plain sight.
- As we enter the new year, much diet discourse will focus on willpower. But rising obesity rates aren't just down to individuals' willpower - it's the food that surrounds us that has become less healthy over the last thirty years. Read our explainer from our health mission ➡️ bit.ly/45Ga3Ba
- Could a heat pump save enough energy to roast 2900 turkeys? In 2024, we ran the numbers for the 12 days of Christmas. A heat pump saves 409kWh vs a gas boiler, enough to cook 5t of sprouts 🥦 They're 3x more efficient. In 2026 we need lower electricity costs to unlock savings:bit.ly/4fuEOvZ
- 📈 🥔 It's officially peak potato season. What better time to dig into historical food and drink purchases with the humble potato as our lens? We crunched the data to get under the skin of the issue with 6 potato data stories that show the evolution of the British diet ⤵️
- 🎅 Could a heat pump sustain Santa’s workshop? Our festive analysis finds that if Santa’s workshop in Finnish Lapland swapped traditional gas heating for low-carbon technology, he would require 78% less energy to keep his elves warm this year. bit.ly/4qrOgWM
- 🦃 Could small changes to supermarket food remove the equivalent of half a billion Christmas dinners a year? Our analysis shows the govt's Healthy Food Standard could cut ~80 calories a day - that's about 1 pig in blanket - helping more people eat healthier without relying on January willpower.
- Is the AI bubble about to burst? 📉 While the debate over AI’s return on investment reaches a fever pitch, Nesta’s Laurie Smith argues we should look beyond the hype to the physical and digital legacy being built.
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- AI is at the heart of government strategy to enhance public service delivery, but its adoption requires a clear understanding of public opinion. New polling by our Centre for Collective Intelligence found 5 critical areas that should inform how the public sector approaches AI adoption.
- Over the last 30 years, obesity rates in England have doubled despite nearly 700 government initiatives. Last year, Nesta published a blueprint for halving obesity, designed to finally turn the tide. Today, we’ve launched updates to reflect the latest, best-quality evidence to guide policy. ⤵️
- The gap between policy on paper and reality on the ground is often vast. The ECO4 scheme failed because of design flaws. To make the new £1.5bn fuel poverty scheme work, we must apply public design methods. Nesta's Alasdair Hiscock outlines 4 ways to design a service that works ⤵️
- As we generate more homegrown energy, we have been exploring an abundant renewable energy future for the UK. Producing plentiful energy without carbon emissions is an innovative opportunity to cleanly drive economic growth and improve quality of lives. But what might this look like?
- Health, early years, net zero, growth - what have been 2025’s boldest policy ideas, and why do they matter? Come together with Nesta & BIT to reflect on the policies that defined the year - and hear sharp analysis on how they’ll shape 2026. 🗓️ 9 Dec, London. Register 👉 bit.ly/4nWcXZI
- 📢 Calling all commissioners of programmes to support parenting and the home learning environment in local authorities in England We’ve launched a new decision-making assistant to help identify evidence-based parenting interventions based on local needs. Try it here ⤵️
- Only 40% of the UK public trusts the public sector to use AI responsibly. But when our Centre for Collective Intelligence consulted on Magic Notes, an AI tool for social workers, support rose. The AI Social Readiness Advisory brings public voices into assessing AI tools for public services ⤵️
- Today, around 1 in 10 children aged 4-5 in England are obese. According to new data, disparities are widening. The poorest 11-year-olds are now 4x as likely to be severely obese as wealthier peers. Prevention is the best way to slow the trend. Dig into the data ➡️ bit.ly/4inOtrf
- The abolition of the two-child limit announced in today's budget is welcome news and will be life-changing for many families. Our mission is that every child has the same chance of developing to their full potential in the early years. Reducing child poverty is a crucial step toward achieving this.
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- In today's budget announcement, the Chancellor has announced measures that will bring down the cost of high electricity bills. It's a welcome step towards a more sustainable future, making it more affordable for households to transition to clean heating alternatives - but there's more to be done. ⤵️
- 🇯🇵 What can we learn from Japan on healthy ageing? Join us tomorrow for a breakfast event to learn about Japan's innovative policy response to an ageing population - and how learnings can be applied in the UK in the face of demographic shifts. 📍 London / online Register ➡️ bit.ly/42MIQfA
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- Cutting the Boiler Upgrade Scheme would be a serious mistake. Heat pump subsidies play a crucial role in stimulating the heat pump market and moving the UK towards clean, affordable heating. We outline seven key reasons why we still need these subsidies, drawing on our latest data analysis ⤵️
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- Health, early years, net zero, growth - what have been 2025’s boldest policy ideas, and why do they matter? Come together with Nesta & BIT to reflect on the policies that defined the year - and hear sharp analysis on how they’ll shape 2026. 🗓️ 9 Dec, London . Register 👉 bit.ly/4nWcXZI
- How can Scotland’s planning system support healthier food environments & tackle obesity? Our new report with @publichealthscot.bsky.social draws on research, stakeholder engagement & lessons learned from England to offer practical steps for integrating food environment policies into local planning.
- There’s been plenty of noise around the future of government-funded heating schemes - crucial to reducing UK carbon emissions and eradicating fuel poverty. The Energy Company Obligation scheme has spent over £13bn in the last 12 years - but what has its impact been and what's next? ⤵️
- Many organisations hesitated when AI tools first appeared. At Nesta and BIT, we leaned in – and now 9 in 10 of our staff use AI weekly. A new blog by @bitglobal.bsky.social shares four 4 lessons that helped us move from curiosity to deep adoption, experimenting and embedding AI across teams ⤵️
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- Our latest report estimates that health targets for large, out-of-home food businesses could improve the nation’s health - reducing obesity by around 2.5% over 3 years. But key policy development questions remain. Nesta's John Barber walks through five key insights from the report in a new blog ⤵️
