Simon’s visit to the University included a tour of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) and a seminar with researchers from Centre for Evidence-Based Public Services and the Economics Observatory, followed by the delivery of his second annual lecture to reflect on his role as Cabinet Secretary, in partnership with the Strand Group.

Simon’s lecture included reflections on the role of institutions and the changes needed to evolve them to ensure they remain fit for purpose and trusted by the people they serve, including the need to make better use of data.

The Bristol Digital Futures Institute (BDFI) forms part of the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, focusing on digital, business and social innovation, to facilitate innovation at scale and shape the skills needed for the future. The visit led by Professor Daniel Neyland, Academic BDFI Co-Director and Dr Jenny Knapp, BDFI Programmes and Operations Director, included a discussion of the need for new approaches to sociotechnical innovation in digital technology and how the new facilities being built in Temple Quarter will enable us to bring together different disciplines, sectors and communities.

Daniel said: “With the current pace and scale of technological change posing new regulatory demands, it was a good moment to engage with the Cabinet Office and discuss how we will manage issues of trust, transparency and accountability in our immediate digital futures. At the BDFI we look forward to working further with government, industry and the public to pioneer new approaches to sociotechnical innovation that will address these issues.

Professor Helen Simpson of the Centre for Evidence-Based Public Services and Professor Richard Davies from the Economics Observatory led a discussion with the Cabinet Office on the ways in which data can be used to inform and improve government policymaking.

Helen Simpson said: “Economics at Bristol has a long tradition of policy-relevant research on the delivery of public services. We discussed how our research on health, education and labour market policies aligns with the government’s need for robust evidence, and how better access to data will be key to delivering our joint aims.”

Richard Davies said: “It was good to hear that the most senior civil servants recognise the need for data and research-driven policy ideas and that the Cabinet Secretary saw a visit to Bristol as a way to bolster his thinking in this area. We are looking forward to developing new approaches to rapidly analysing and assessing policies over the coming years.”