Institute for Government

The Institute for Government is the UK’s leading independent think tank working to make government more effective.

Through in-depth analysis, expert commentary and influential public events, we explore how government works – and how it can work better.

Our team conducts rigorous evidence-based research and data analysis, brings together key decision makers to share insight and expertise, and sets out fresh ideas and constructive recommendations to help senior politicians and public servants improve the way government works.

Our IfG Academy programme provides opportunities for ministers, shadow ministers and senior civil servants to understand their roles, and develop skills to better equip them for life in government.

We also work with academic researchers, charities, businesses and international audiences to help them understand how government and policy making works.

The Institute was awarded the Political Studies Association’s Political Communicator of the Year for 2021-22. In 2019, it was Think Tank of the Year at Prospect’s 2019 Think Tank Awards; and in 2018, it was the winner of the best UK economic think tank award at Prospect’s 2018 Think Tank Awards.

The Institute was founded in 2008 and is led by Dr Hannah White OBE.


Latest reports

Educational outcomes across England: Performance Tracker Local

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the performance gaps in schools. The 2010s saw educational attainment increase, and disparities narrow, across England’s schools – but this progress was brought to a shuddering halt when Covid hit. Since 2019, educational inequalities have again grown wider and more pronounced, both across the...

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How to successfully deliver refugee resettlement

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government summarises a government roundtable discussion on resettlement schemes. Over the last decade, resettlement programmes have safely and successfully brought to the UK hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflict and persecution. These schemes have rapidly mobilised different parts of central and local government, public services,...

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Hybrid bills

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government explores how to improve the hybrid bill legislative process. The government has set ambitious goals for infrastructure for its first term. The Plan for Change sets a goal of 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure by the end of this parliament.1 Hybrid bills can be...

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Adult social care across England: Performance Tracker Local

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the care gap in England. There exists a damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’ in England that means access to care for older adults is increasingly based not on need but on other factors – some perhaps less surprising, like local levels of deprivation...

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How strategic authorities can develop effective local economic plans: Making devolution work

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government explores how local economic strategies can be powerful drivers of prosperity and growth. As the government continues progress on the ‘devolution revolution’, it is more important than ever for strategic authorities to use their devolved powers in a coherent and strategic way. This report sets...

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Ministerial leadership during crises

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how ministers can prepare for a potential crisis and learn lessons in the aftermath. Crises are among the greatest challenges a minister will face while in office. The minister in charge of the response will have to get to grips with a complex...

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A smarter approach to homelessness

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at prioritising prevention in the 2025 spending review. Homelessness is an issue that blights the lives of many people, including families and children. A cost of living crisis, on top of a decades-long housing crisis, has left hundreds of thousands without adequate or safe,...

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A new Civil Service Act

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government presents a draft Bill designed to improve the management, functioning and oversight of the civil service. Since our foundation, the Institute for Government has argued for improved accountability in government and researched ways to achieve it. In recent years we have led calls for a...

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The case for Total Place 2.0

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government makes the case for this government to launch a revitalised 'Total Place 2.0'. There is currently a gulf between the way that the government funds and delivers public services and the way that citizens use them. The government typically allocates money through departments, which fund...

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Reducing school absence: innovation lessons from the last Labour government

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government explores how Labour can learn from its experience of tackling complex problems when it was last in government. The last Labour government’s success in tackling complex policy problems like school absence provides a blueprint for Keir Starmer’s government. This report, written by Moira Wallace, former...

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General practice across England: Performance Tracker Local

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government argues that the government needs to urgently address the crisis in the GP partner workforce. This report, the second in a new IfG series – funded by the Nuffield Foundation – on public service performance at the local level, shows that patient satisfaction is higher...

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Why government should introduce an annual migration plan

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government outlines how government could strengthen the process for developing immigration policy to better achieve its overall objectives.  The government’s work to set out its plan for immigration in a white paper is an opportunity to more strategically reassess how migration policies are developed. In 2019,...

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Lessons from past independent policy reviews

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at why reviews are commissioned and how they have been set up and run. This report looks at why reviews are commissioned and how they have been set up and run. It then makes recommendations for reviewers and officials on how to run a...

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Policy making for left-behind groups: school readiness

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how government can start closing the opportunity gap in early years education. The Starmer government has committed to five long-term missions, including to ‘break down barriers to opportunity’, and has set a target for 75% of five year-olds to be ‘school ready’ by...

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How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality. By May, over half of England’s population will live in an area covered by a metro mayor. The mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) they lead have already shown their capacity to take on responsibility for key local economic...

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Upcoming events

20 October 2025

Location: Online / The Assembly Room, The Exchange, 3 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2DR

Think tank: Institute for Government

How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Government discusses how mayors and strategic authorities have secured investment into regional economies. The IfG DevoLab is a new initiative from the Institute for Government dedicated to exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from the results, and sharing the lessons so that places can take better...

21 October 2025

Location: Online / Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA

Think tank: Institute for Government

Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Government highlights outstanding examples of innovation across public services. Productivity in public services has never been more important. Most services are struggling to return to pre-pandemic performance levels, and the new Labour government has indicated that spending will remain tight. Improvements in performance will likely come from frontline...

3 November 2025

Location: Online / Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA

Think tank: Institute for Government

Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Government explores the Civil Service Commission’s role in recruiting senior leaders and developing talent. As well as the election of a new government, the last year has seen the appointment of a new cabinet secretary and eight new permanent secretaries to lead departments.   How will this new leadership...