PASOS/OSI communications workshop 24 th May 2010 Tim Finch, Director of Strategic Communications, ippr

“We pride ourselves on a track record of coming up with smart ideas and practical solutions based on sound evidence, using these to stimulate debates at all levels of society around the most important policy areas, and engaging with those holding power and influence so that new thinking can be put into practice.”

who are we talking to?

The role of the Communications Strategy to stimulate debates at all levels of society and engage with those holding power and influence so that… new thinking can be put into practice

Think Tanks and communications “A good think tank is a mixture of nerds and hacks”

What have busy policy makers got time to read and digest? This? Or this? Or even this?

The public discourse in the UK around net migration is increasingly polarised There’s a huge row in Britain about immigrant numbers

The communications strategy is owned and lived by all in the think tank We don’t start a research project without thinking about the communications outputs The communications outputs don’t all need to come at the end of the project

ippr – the first 21 years Closely associated with the dominant political project A ‘revolving door to power’ New Labour’s favourite think tank Ideas clearly influential Importance to external audiences obvious

Strengths Track Record Experience Pockets of expertise Hardened, battle scarred Trust Trustees and PAC Brand Strength Weaknesses New Labour tag Diminishing influence Lack of profile (co-directors in particular) Spread to thin Lack of definition Some loss of expertise Morale Opportunities Conservatives short of ideas Conservatives quickly in trouble Ippr seen as obvious place to renew the progressive agenda Key subject areas high on agenda Threats Frozen out by Conservatives New think tank emerges to challenge for progressive (centre left) space Loss of engagement with critical figures in Labour Loss of confidence from key funders Ignored by media

Where we want to be The Contested Space The place for renewal of progressive thinking

Independent, radical, progressive It is underpinned by the following principles: Combating inequality Empowering citizens Promoting social responsibility Creating a sustainable economy Revitalising democracy

New politics Coalition a space for new thinking

Two big figures but throughout the project they were invisible and silent

NEW ERA ECONOMICS The new ippr flagship project