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The efficiency imperative: driving impact via data driven outreach With increasing demand and shrinking resources, councils face growing pressure to deliver impactful support to vulnerable residents efficiently.

In this webinar, we explore how data driven outreach campaigns can help local authorities overcome these challenges and achieve impactful results.

Join us to hear from two leading local government organisations as they share their experiences using Campaign Manager, a powerful new feature of the LIFT platform.

Discover how they’ve leveraged their data using intelligent analytics to identify financially vulnerable residents, streamline their outreach processes, and maximise both resident outcomes and cost savings.

This session will cover:

- Strategies to manage rising demand with limited resources
- How data insights can drive targeted and efficient resident support
- Real world results from councils using Campaign Manager for impactful outreach campaigns

Join us to learn how your council can also turn insights into action and make smarter, data-driven decisions to support your communities.

With guest speakers:

- Seth Pearson, Darlington Partnership Director, Darlington Borough Council
- Sarah Small, Darlington Partnership Programme Officer, Darlington Borough Council
- Fahmida Rahman, Senior Policy Officer, Greater London Authority

26/3/2025

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

Protecting vulnerable consumers in regulated sectors Regulated industries such as water, energy and finance play a critical role in people’s lives. With increasing economic pressures, more consumers are becoming vulnerable, requiring additional support and protections.

Regulators like Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA have tightened expectations around how businesses identify, support and engage with vulnerable customers. Failure to comply can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties and customer hardship. But how can organisations balance compliance with commercial priorities while delivering fair outcomes for consumers?

Join industry experts as we explore best practices, regulatory expectations and practical strategies for businesses to proactively identify and protect vulnerable consumers. Gain actionable insights on:

- The evolving regulatory landscape across Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA
- Effective strategies for identifying and supporting vulnerable customers
- Case studies showcasing successful industry approaches
- How technology and data can enhance consumer protection

Join this webinar to learn how to strengthen your compliance strategy, improve customer engagement and safeguard both consumers and your organisation’s reputation.

Register now to stay ahead of regulatory expectations and build a more consumer focused business.

30/4/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Harnessing data for regional impact: empowering local leaders to drive change Devolution is one of the core missions of the new government, promising a strong focus on giving local areas more control over services. To tackle economic inactivity, and with many people across the UK needing support, it’s vital that local authorities deliver effective, targeted interventions. The success of tailored, region-specific approaches depends on how well local areas can harness data to drive change.

Local organisations, from Mayoral Combined Authorities to county councils, need to deliver these crucial services. Accessing and using the data insights required to implement efficient and effective programmes is a challenge and, without localised data, decision making can become less accurate. This leads to inefficient resource allocation and missed opportunities to reach those who need help the most.

Data analysis offers the key to overcoming these challenges. By harnessing the power of local data, authorities can get the accurate insights they need to target support where it will be most effective. With the right insights, local areas can design and deliver services that are more tailored, timely and impactful, ensuring the right residents get the right support at the right time.

Proven results from current data led initiatives already show the transformative potential of this approach.

Join this webinar to hear from guest speakers who have successfully implemented data driven campaigns. They will showcase real world examples of how they have come together to achieve measurable outcomes.

We’ll also explore how these data insights can be applied to address key issues like economic inactivity, youth unemployment and social isolation to deliver lasting change across regions.

21/5/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Blog

Investment must be tangible for those in need: Policy in Practice responds to Autumn Budget 2024

Rachael Walker Published on 31st October 2024

Yesterday’s Autumn Budget 2024 raised taxes to allow for investment in public services. This much needed boost will need to deliver growth over the long term to pay off.

Value for money, smarter use of technology, and integrated thinking across government have long been priorities championed by Policy in Practice. It’s encouraging to see the government now embracing these proven strategies.

We welcome good news in the Autumn Budget 2024 on key measures impacting benefit claimants and low income households.

For individuals

The Minimum Wage will be increased by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour for over 23’s and by 16.3% to £10 an hour for younger people, equivalising pay for the first time and putting more money into the pockets of low income earners
Benefits for people of working age, including those on UC, will be uprated by 1.7% in line with inflation, providing an estimated £150 increase annually for an average UC claimant
More than a million households on UC will be better off by an average of £420 a year thanks to a cut to the maximum debt deductions from UC from 25% to 15%
Carers claiming Carer’s Allowance will be able to earn up to £195 a week without losing Carer’s Allowance, an increase of 29% on the current rate of £151 a week

For organisations

With one in five people living in poverty it’s great to see support for vulnerable households expanded with a £1 billion extension to the Household Support Fund, as well as increases to Discretionary Housing Payments. This increase gives councils some certainty for local welfare assistance after three years of incremental pit stops
The budget also awards an extra £233 million to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, bringing the total funding for homelessness to £1 billion in 2025-26. Combined with social homebuilding initiatives this may reduce pressure on temporary accommodation in the medium term if combined with tackling unaffordable rents

Points to watch from Autumn Budget 2024

Reducing deductions from UC will reduce harm, but may be tough for creditors including local authorities relying on deductions to keep revenue manageable
Uprating benefits in line with an inflation ‘snapshot’ remains controversial with inflation being higher both pre and post snapshot
Welfare fraud measures are being strengthened to 3,000 extra staff focused on counter fraud efforts. Their work is projected to save £4.3 billion by 2029-30. These efforts may increase scrutiny of benefit claimants and fear of the system, we hope to see benefit take up given as much attention as fraud
Some additional funding for local government will create more certainty which could see wider scope for investment in data led approaches that reduce demand over the longer term

Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024, Deven Ghelani, Director and Founder of Policy in Practice said:

The Autumn Budget is a step forward after many steps back, directing investment to the frontline where it’s needed most and where we know it can make a real difference. It is right to champion joined up government, smart use of data and technology as these are essential elements to drive lasting change.

Watch out for more in depth analysis from the Policy in Practice team in the days to come, and book a call to find out how you can start planning for the changes listed above now.