Who will shape the future?

As an agency on a mission to create positive change in society, we spend our time championing the importance of meaningful participation in solving complex issues. So, over the next five years we hope to see this new government actively engaging people in progress, and harnessing the knowledge, insights and opinions of its citizens to make big strides on the most urgent issues, starting with the following…

Time to clean up

Labour has said that clean energy is the country’s biggest challenge and promises a laser-like focus to complete the switch to clean power by 2030 and to become a world leader again on the path to net zero. It’s a monumental task, and it will only happen if the government takes people along on the journey with them. Because as we’ve been observing, there’s a worrying gap between conversation and action that is certainly not going to get the job done. 

Earlier this year, The Health Foundation launched our collaboration Net Zero NHS: Imagining the Future, challenging decision-makers to consider the comprehensive changes required to achieve a net zero healthcare service. The immersive installation has proven to be hugely impactful across audiences, inspiring discussion and exploration of how to move forwards. However, when we took it to NHSConfed Expo – one of the most significant events in the healthcare calendar – we discovered that net zero had slipped off the bill, with hardly anything on the conference agenda related to climate at all. 

Given that the NHS accounts for 4% of the UK’s carbon emissions, it’s impossible to think of climate targets being achieved without a major course correction, one which renews people’s energy and enthusiasm for achieving a net zero future and supports healthcare policy makers and workers to move forward together.

The future of work is here

Employment reforms are at the forefront of the Labour government’s policies and we’re hoping to see some out-of-the-box thinking, as that’s what is going to be required here to make meaningful change. 

A seismic shift to the way we work is underway; accelerated by the impact of AI, the green transition and the rise of atypical forms of work like the gig economy. The speed and the lack of informed conversation around these changes risks people and places being left behind, with potentially catastrophic impact to communities, health and livelihoods.

Working with social innovation consultancy ALT/NOW and backed by Impact on Urban Health, we’ve created Job Design Lab – a new learning programme which invites people and communities across the UK to shape and prepare for their future of work. Creative stimuluses encourage participants to think differently about a complex issue and discover how they can ready themselves for the change that’s coming; in turn, they have a voice in the process of change and are helping to inform local growth strategies and the national conversation about the future of work.

Science, but for everyone

Building a sustainable future for R&D should be a priority for the country, and to achieve that it will be vital for research to be developed inclusively. It’s going to require a different way of thinking within and outside government; one that fully recognises the value and importance of meaningfully bringing the public into conversations about matters that affect us all.

Our current work on stem cell research with London School of Economics and The Francis Crick Institute is an example of this approach - as scientists, ethicists and lawyers try to figure out how to regulate for a future we don’t yet know, we’re supporting a broad public audience to engage more deeply and express their views around complex scientific developments – and in turn influence the regulation that will affect all our lives in the future.


The new normal

Change brings hope, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this new political landscape can do to nurture a better outcome for all people. This government has the opportunity to connect with citizens more deeply – increasing interaction and supporting everyone to participate in complex conversations in ways that can lead to meaningful influence. Deepening connections between those impacted and those making the decisions is the way to build a better future.


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