Nesta

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We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions across the innovation lifecycle.

18/06/2026

From an economics perspective, the right model is to rejoin the EU, says Nesta's Tim Leunig. But to what extent is Brexit a purely economic issue, versus a deeper debate over British sovereignty?

Tim joins UK in a Changing Europe's director, Anand Menon, and host Joe Owen to discuss the future of EU-UK relations and the economic cost of Brexit in the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast.

🎥 Watch the full conversation on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

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16/06/2026

Is a social media ban the best way to keep children safe online?

With yesterday's announcement of a social media ban for under-16s, the debate over online regulation has never been more urgent. But is a straightforward ban the right move, or should policymakers be looking at more innovative alternatives?

🎙️ We were joined by Nesta's Tony Curzon Price and Demos' Hannah Perry to explore this issue on the Policy Fix podcast.

The conversation digs into what policymakers should do about social media and its effect on children, weighing up the benefits and limitations of radical intervention such as a blanket social media ban as seen in Australia, and the alternatives that should be on the table.

🎧 Watch the full episode on Youtube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4erFNOT

15/06/2026

A UK ban on social media for under 16s is officially on the table - but is it really the best solution for children's online safety?

We were joined by digital policy expert Hannah Perry (Demos) and Nesta's Tony Curzon Price to dig into what policymakers should do about social media and its effect on children, on a recent episode of the Policy Fix podcast 🎙️

Our guests weigh the merits of radical intervention alongside regulatory and policy options with host Joe Owen.

Listen to the conversation to explore why legislation has so far failed to keep pace, whether a social media ban will be truly effective, and whether, instead of just banning social media, we need to build it better.

🎥 Watch the full episode of the Policy Fix ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dE1zjP

🎧 Rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

13/06/2026

How Ireland has gained from Brexit - and why they would drive a hard bargain ⤵️

In our latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, we're exploring the UK's place in Europe with guests Professor Anand Menon, director at UK in a Changing Europe and Nesta's Tim Leunig.

While the UK remains outside the single market for goods, Ireland has seen a significant boost in manufacturing exports due to post-Brexit trade diversion. This economic shift creates a new policy challenge for any future UK-EU negotiations.

Listen to the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast hosted by Joseph Owen to learn more about the future of UK-EU relations and the economic impact of Brexit.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts.

10/06/2026

What is Brexit truly costing the UK economy? 🇪🇺

According to academic research, being outside the EU is costing us 6% to 8% of GDP. Even if we take the lowest estimate, that amounts to a staggering £180 billion a year- or roughly half a billion pounds a week.

The latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast is out now. Guests Tim Leunig and Anand Menon join host Joseph Owen to untangle the real-world policy trade-offs and explore whether rejoining is realistic given the current political climate.

🎙️ In each episode of the Policy Fix, we take a policy problem and look at the solutions for fixing it. We look at the challenge, what works and how to make change happen.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oiAaqR

🎧 Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts.

07/06/2026

When we talk about artificial intelligence in public services, we tend to focus on the flashy capabilities. But the real AI opportunity is actually a second chance to go back and fix the foundations.

In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Mallory Durran explains why previous digital transformation programmes fell short. The key to unlocking AI isn't just newer technology; it’s finally getting the "boring stuff" right.

Watch the full conversation about effective public sector AI adoption on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Subscribe, share and rate wherever you get your podcasts🎧

05/06/2026

How do you manage the risks of artificial intelligence in public services? 🤖

The instinct for many organisations is to tighten rules or stall implementation, but James Kuht, CEO of PAIR and former No 10 data scientist, argues for a different approach: experimentation.

Listen to the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, where we explore the practical fixes needed to unlock public sector AI adoption, debate how the state can compete with big tech for top-tier talent and ultimately set out how the civil service can maximise its real-world impact using AI.

🎥Watch the full episode on how to transform public sector AI adoption on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

04/06/2026

Why are some government departments ahead of others when it comes to technology? 💻

In the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, our guests discuss what it really takes for the government to successfully become world leaders in public service AI - and how some departments have already embraced digital transformation.

Watch the full episode 🎥: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

Rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

02/06/2026

What do successful public sector AI programmes have in common?

James Kuht, CEO of PAIR and founding member of No 10’s data science team, shares the one non-negotiable trait that government departments that get AI right have in common: clear, unwavering vision from senior leadership.

James joins Nesta's Mallory Durran and Joe Owen on the Policy Fix podcast to discuss how the civil service can navigate the complexities of AI adoption to deliver real-world impact.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

🎧 Rate, comment and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

30/05/2026

Will AI actually fix our public services or just create private wealth? 🏦

In the latest episode of the Policy Fix podcast, Nesta’s Mallory Durran, former lead at the UK government’s Incubator for AI, joins host Joseph Owen and PAIR’s James Kuht to discuss the reality of public sector AI adoption and untangle the real-world fixes needed to make AI work for the state.

Mallory warns that better citizen experiences and genuine public value are not guaranteed just because a technology is powerful. If the state wants to harness AI to create public value rather than just private wealth, we need a fundamental shift in how government handles digital transformation.

👉 Watch the full conversation: https://bit.ly/4dAIHk1

🎧 Rate, comment and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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