Styles of government intervention

Styles of intervention
We have been investigating ways to help policy makers, whether in government or other
organisations, to explore the range of styles of intervention available to them. Our styles of
intervention do not attempt to be exhaustive, but can act as prompts for policy teams and
partners. The styles of intervention can be used in a similar way that an artist might explore
the range of colours or textures available to them. Here are a draft set of cards, constantly
under development. Please give us feedback at policylab@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Steward
Steering a sector through
influence and information
Regulator
Regulating a sector and
coordinating enforcement
Funder
Stimulating or
leading investment
Provider
Designing, providing and
modifying public services
Customer
Buying goods and commision
services
Legislator
Making laws and amending
legislation
Framing, piloting and
market forming
Moving in mature markets and
policy ecosystems
Early stage intervention
Scaling, mainstreaming and
market building
Strategy and skills planning
Prepare for changing workforce
demands and consequences
of change.
Fiscal incentives
Direct finance to stimulate new thinking
that can drive future opportunities.
Governance
Ensure regulation supports the
conditions for change and delivers
the policy intent.
Service redesign
Establish legitimacy for more human-
centred services, harnessing political
will for change.
Educating and informing
Ensure regulation is sufficiently
understood and citizens know
what’s available to them.
Grants and subsidies
Incentivise behaviour change through
grants or other incentives.
Building a
regulatory environment
Ensure regulation enables the
intended policy outcomes.
Service provider
Provide services directly or indirectly
through funding and target setting.
Agenda setting
Build awareness and confidence
in new opportunities by providing
thought leadership.
Innovator
Create test beds, sandboxes and
trials in real world settings.
Encourage voluntary codes
Self-regulation, without legislation,
allowing for greater flexibility.
Early adopter
Invest in the exploration of new
opportunities with strategic value.
Giving a voice
Creating platforms for citizens and
stakeholders to protect vested rights
and interests.
Platform provision
Scale up proven ideas through existing
infrastructure and public services.
Compliance
Support enforcement and harmonise
regulatory compliance environment.
Choice architect
‘Nudging’ behaviour so that the default
is both attractive and easy.
Convening power
Draw together expertise
from across system.
Connecting networks
Encourage government, experts
and citizens to co-create change.
Champion
Build a case for change and
retain alliances for action.
Co-producing
Co-deliver by steering different actors
from across the system to deliver
outcomes.
Standard setting
Develop standards for data collection
and presentation.
User centred commissioner
Understanding citizen needs and
contracting services that deliver
best impact.
Catalyst
Review, identify and invest in key
opportunities with strategic value.
Leverage buying power
Utilise public procurement to
encourage investment, innovation,
and protect consumer rights.
White papers & draft bills
Publish proposals for consultation
and pre-legislative scrutiny.
Primary and
Secondary Legislation
Support a bill through parliament
and enact legislation.
Green papers
Publish proposals for discussion
with stakeholders and the public.
Amend rules
Statutory Instruments: rules, orders,
created by delegated authorities (e.g.
Secretary of State).
Styles of government intervention*
* Examples of different formal and informal powers and levers for government policy-makers
Collaborator
Working with others to build
evidence and develop ideas
Government as ...
March 2018 - work in progress. Please provide feedback on this prototype.

Collaborator
Style of intervention - government
Government can work with others to
build evidence and develop ideas
What:
StewardCollaborator Customer Funder Regulator LegislatorProvider

Demonstrating
best practice
“We are taking on the
new code of practice
in all government
buildings”
Champion
DEVELOPINGEARLY STAGE SCALING
Convening
power
Calling
a summit
“We are bringing you
together to find a
solution to x problem”
Connecting
networks
Co-producing
Creating
an ecosystem
“We are creating a
network to address
market failure” e.g.
knowledge transfer
networks
Development of multi-
agency safeguarding
teams
“Together, government,
law enforcement, social
services and others will
develop action plans to
support the most
vulnerable”
FRAMING
Collaborator - Examples
Build a case for
change and retain
alliances for action.
Draw together
expertise from
across system.
Encourage
government,
experts and citizens
to co-create change.
Co-deliver by
steering different
actors from across
the system to
deliver outcomes.

Steward Government can steer a sector
through influence and information
What:

Steward - Examples
Agenda
Setting
Strategy and
skills
planning
Educating
and informing
Giving
a voice
Build awareness
and confidence in
new opportunities
by providing thought
leadership.
Prepare for
changing workforce
demands and
consequences
of change.
Ensure regulation
is sufficiently
understood and
citizens know what is
available to them.
Creating platforms
for citizens and
stakeholders to
protect vested rights
and interests.
DEVELOPINGEARLY STAGE SCALINGFRAMING
Speech on the steps
of Downing Street
“My government will
focus on x issue”
Setting out what
skills we will need for
the future
“Our purpose
document sets out
what the Cabinet
Office needs…”
Promotion of
government schemes
(e.g. apprentices)
“Get in, go far – take on
an apprentice”
Measures for citizens
to provide feedback
“If you don’t think this
service does well, you
can take x action”

Customer Government can buy goods and
commission services
What:

Catalyst Standard
setting
User centred
commissioner
Leverage
buying power
Review, identify
and invest in key
opportunities with
strategic value.
Develop standards
for data collection
and presentation.
Understanding
citizen needs and
contracting services
that deliver best
impact.
Utilise public
procurement to
encourage investment,
innovation, and protect
consumer rights.
Customer - Examples
Providing confidence
in, and signalling
sectors of interest
through investment
Government Digital by
Default: “We will only
buy these things”
Setting technical
standards for
interfacing with
systems
“When uploading audio
to the system, you can
use only .mp3 files”
Harnessing buying
power through large
orders
“When we buy
operational staff
uniforms, we will only
buy fair trade”
Buying services
which deliver for
identified citizen
needs
“We have contracted
with x organisation to
deliver y service to z
people”

Provider Government can design, provide
and modify public services
What:

Create test beds,
sandboxes and
trials in real world
settings.
Innovator Service
redesign
Service
provider
Choice
architect
Establish
legitimacy for more
human-centred
services, harnessing
political will for
change.
Provide services
directly or indirectly
through funding and
target setting.
‘Nudging’ behaviour
so that the default is
both attractive and
easy.
Provider - Examples
New models of care:
vanguard sites
“We are prototyping a
new service provision
model”
New commissioning
models
“We are integrating
health and social care”
Issuing of licences,
passports and
permits
“We will issue most
passport renewals in 3
weeks”
Using behavioural
interventions
“We will remind people
that nine out of 10
people in the UK pay
their tax on time”

Funder Government can stimulate
or lead investment
What:

Early
adopter
Fiscal
incentives
Grants
and subsidies
Platform
provision
Invest in the
exploration of new
opportunities with
strategic value.
Direct finance to
stimulate new
thinking that can
drive future
opportunities.
Incentivise
behaviour change
through grants or
other incentives.
Scale up proven
ideas through
existing
infrastructure and
public services.
Funder - Examples
R&D labs e.g. Centre
of Applied Science
and Tech
“We are putting
resource into
developing
technologies which…”
Northern Powerhouse
investments
“We are putting money
where we want things to
happen”
Innovation funds
“We want innovative
projects which use xyz
technologies”
Government
as a platform
“We will provide the
supporting
infrastructure, you
build add-on services”

Regulator Government can regulate a sector
and coordinate enforcement
What:

Encourage
voluntary
codes
Governance Building a
regulatory
environment
Compliance
Self-regulation,
without legislation,
allowing for greater
flexibility.
Ensure regulation
supports the
conditions for change
and delivers the
policy intent.
Ensure regulation
enables the
intended policy
outcomes.
Support enforcement
and harmonise
regulatory compliance
environment.
Regulator - Examples
The Woodland
Carbon Code
“We support the
market’s adoption of
this voluntary code”
Creating an
oversight board
“Our terms of
reference are to
ensure the service
runs effectively”
Forming a new
protection agency
“This organisation will
regulate the sector with
these powers”
Funding and
supporting protection
agencies
“We are giving x agency
more money for them to
combat y”

Legislator Through parliament, government can
make laws and amend legislation
What:

Green
papers
White papers
& draft bills
Primary and
Secondary
Legislation
Amend
rules
Publish proposals
for discussion with
stakeholders and
the public.
Publish proposals for
consultation and pre-
legislative scrutiny.
Support a bill
through parliament
and enact
legislation.
Statutory Instruments:
rules, orders, created
by delegated
authorities (e.g.
Secretary of State).
Legislator - Examples
The industrial
strategy green paper
“Here is what we want
to do…”
Future of East
Midlands rail
franchise
“Here is how
we plan to do it”
The Misuse of
Drugs Act 1971
“This is the law”
Amendments to the
Misuse of Drugs Act
“These things are now
covered by the act”

Style of intervention - other
Who:
What:
What can be done by others, e.g.
industry, communities and individuals?

Other intervention
ACTION
Communities
Other actors

Groups
What can be done by groups or communities?
What:
Style of intervention - groups and communities
Who:
Work in progress (April 2018 version). Please provide feedback on this prototype.

Individuals
What:
Style of intervention - individuals
What can be done by individuals?
Who:
Work in progress (April 2018 version). Please provide feedback on this prototype.

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