The document provides an overview of the UK Policy Lab, which brings new approaches like data science and design thinking to government policymaking. It works with policymakers on projects to help test ideas and engage the public and experts. Projects range from short sprints to year-long work on complex issues across departments. The Lab team supports this work through tools like ethnography, prototyping, and evaluating options. Their goal is to deliver better policy outcomes at lower cost.

1. A quick guide to
commissioning
Policy Lab
Summer 2015

2. We bring new approaches and tools
to government policy-making; from
data science to user-centred
design.
Policy
Lab

3. What is policy
Lab?
Policy Lab
The Policy Lab is funded by
departments for departments.
We are a small team, supported
by departmental secondees and
external experts.
We work with policy-makers to
help them put policy ideas through
their paces, bringing open policy
making approaches to life on real
projects.

4. What we do in
Lab
What we do
We create a neutral space for
policy-makers to collaborate
across departments and engage
with the public and external
experts in key policy areas.
We do this through a rigorous,
collaborative process using a
range of innovative tools and
techniques from data science to
design.

5. World class policy practice
To date we have worked on a
range of cross-departmental
policies from employment support
to mediation of divorce.
We seek to deliver better policy
outcomes at lower cost.
Lab projects
to date

6. Working with Lab
Commissioning Lab
Our projects come from all parts of
government.
We are always open to enquiries
for new projects. We offer a quick
overview of Policy Lab and an
opportunity to work up a project
idea in an introductory workshop
for policy teams who may be
interested in running a lab project.
For more information contact
Beatrice.Andrews@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

7. Working with Lab
Project team and associates
The Lab brings together experts
from inside and outside
government to support projects.
We work with service designers,
ethnographers, data scientists and
subject specialists on our projects.

8. Policy Lab
project support

9. What kind of
Support?
Lab projects
Lab sprints
Short commissioned facilitation to
help teams accelerate projects.
Lab projects
Commissioned policy projects up
to a year long on complex
challenges

10. Diagnose Discover Develop & Deliver
Lab light Full project
Establish scope & Generate insights
Identify knowledge
Develop, test and refine shared
ideas and proposals
Policy Lab Team with Policy Lead
Policy
Lead
Policy Lab full project process 2015
ExternalInternal

11. Engage with sponsor
Commission experts
Citizen insight
Establish governance
ExternalInternal
Options appraisal
Test and evaluate
Policy Lab Team with Policy Lead
Policy
Lead
Lab
Intro
Outline
proposal
Prototyping Implement
3-6 weeks
Ethnography and
expert input
Evaluate
Advisory
group
Expert
group
Project
group 4-8 weeks
Identify scope Generate insights Develop shared ideas and proposals
Policy Lab full project process 2015
Lab
Sprint
As
Required
As
Required
Lab
Report
Co-lab
Session

12. Lab light
Lab taster sessions
These short sessions provide
introductions to using Lab tools
and techniques. We can tailor
them to suit so can be included in
Policy Schools, departmental
training and away days.
What kind of
Support?

13. Lab light
Lab experiments
Through our experiments we
have developed a number of
policy ‘firsts’ for government.
Departments can set a
challenge or join us to try our
new ways of working through
one off trials of new and
emergent techniques.
What kind of
Support?

14. About Lab
We support departments across the
UK from our base at the Cabinet
Office’s Government Innovation
Group.
The Lab offers a ‘pop up’ lab
experience to departments wishing to
build capabilities in-house.
Policy Lab team:
Paul Maltby, Dr Andrea Siodmok,
Beatrice Andrews and Cat Drew.
AHRC Research Fellow, Dr Lucy
Kimbell.
What is policy
Lab?

15. Policy Lab
Result
In our first year we worked with
over 1,200 civil servants on
practical projects and workshops.
As a result of collaboration and
new insights our policy projects
deliver better outcomes at lower
cost.
To date our projects are estimated
to create over £3m in savings if
implemented at scale.

16. Policy Lab UK
Read more openpolicy.blog.gov.uk
Or follow us on twitter
@PolicyLabUK
Or contact
beatrice.andrews@cabinetoffice.gov.uk