Understanding Society | Ipsos

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The future of public services

Public services matter. Many tell us that the parties' policies on these issues are very important in helping them decide how to vote. However, Britons are feeling pessimistic about the future and the government's ability to improve public services. As parties draft their manifestos ahead of the much-speculated next general election, they will need to balance the current restra...

The future of the NHS

The NHS is currently facing significant pressures due to various challenges which will further escalate in the future if unaddressed. Additional funding and evolving NHS services are necessary remedies, as are the greater use of technology and measures to retain staff. But it’s also important to take action on areas outside of the NHS’s control like social care and the social d...

The future of AI in public services

AI has the potential to automate repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency in our public services. Using insights from Ipsos research and an interview with Dr. Jonathan Bright from The Alan Turing Institute, Daniel Cameron and Reema Patel identify different types of AI technology and their applications in the public sector. However, they also explore the challenges such as bias, ...

The future of policing

Policing in the UK is based on 'policing by consent', but recent data shows a decrease in public approval and trust in the police in the UK. We spoke with Rick Muir, Director of The Police Foundation, about the current state of policing in the UK, the perception gap the public have on police activities and how policing can be improved. In order to restore trust in policing, ou...

The future of energy and climate adaptation

The UK’s climate is undergoing significant changes. Our future will be affected by unprecedented climate events with far-reaching consequences for our economy and society, and the public services that assist us. But climate change is likely to have different impacts on different communities. The challenge lies in adapting to these changes in an equitable and just manner. Publi...

The future of the UK workforce

Future public services should enable people to develop skills and change career mid-life to meet the economy’s skills needs. Many people would change career and retrain but don’t know how. We discussed with Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight at the West Midlands Combined Authority, how the WMCA Trailblazer devolution deal offered an opportunity to design solutions to integrate sk...

The future of local delivery

The UK is facing rising demands for public services and the need to address social issues like homelessness, poverty, and mental health. However, regional disparity is a major concern, with regional imbalances ranking highest among advanced economies. Dr. Eleanor Carter, Research Director, Government Outcomes Lab, joined us to discuss how place-based policy initiatives can be i...

Our past publications

View all of our past Understanding Society articles, organised by topic.