IPPR North

IPPR North
IPPR · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	IPPR North
Established	2004
Type	Think tank
Location	Manchester, United Kingdom
Director	Unknown

IPPR North IPPR North is a regional think tank based in Manchester that conducts policy research on public policy challenges affecting the North of England. It produces analysis aimed at informing debates involving institutions such as the BBC, Labour Party, Conservative Party, House of Commons, and House of Lords. Its work is cited by media outlets including The Guardian, Financial Times, The Times, The Independent, and The Economist.

History

Founded in the early 21st century, the organisation was created alongside organisations such as the Institute for Public Policy Research and contemporaries like the Resolution Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Nesta, and the Royal Society to address regional imbalances. Its early years saw engagement with figures from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Theresa May administrations. It contributed to debates during events such as the 2008 United Kingdom financial crisis, the Brexit referendum, and the regional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The think tank has worked with civic actors from Manchester City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and institutions including University of Manchester, Newcastle University, Leeds Beckett University, and Sheffield Hallam University.

Organisation and Governance

The organisation is structured with a board of trustees and an executive team, similar to governance models used by Chatham House, Royal United Services Institute, and the Brookings Institution. Trustees have included leaders drawn from sectors linked to Unite the Union, Confederation of British Industry, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Manchester Metropolitan University, and private sector firms like PwC, KPMG, EY, and Deloitte. It follows accountability practices akin to those of Charity Commission for England and Wales registered charities and interacts with statutory bodies such as UK Parliament committees and devolved administrations like the Greater London Authority and the Scottish Parliament when cross-regional issues arise.

Research Areas and Policy Work

Research themes include regional development, transport, housing, health and social care, devolution, skills, innovation, and climate. Projects have intersected with agencies such as Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail, High Speed 2, Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Local Government Association, and Homes England. The think tank’s work references models and initiatives from international bodies such as the OECD, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and programmes like the European Regional Development Fund and the Horizon 2020 research funding. It engages with stakeholders across sectors including NHS England, Public Health England, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and regional enterprise partnerships like Greater Manchester LEP.

Publications and Reports

The organisation issues reports, briefings, and policy papers comparable to outputs from Institute for Fiscal Studies, Adam Smith Institute, Centre for Policy Studies, and Policy Exchange. Titles have analyzed topics referencing case studies from M62 motorway, Manchester Airport, Liverpool Waters, Merseyrail, Teesside Freeport, and industrial clusters such as Salford Quays and Sheffield Forgemasters. It publishes quantitative analyses using data from Office for National Statistics, National Audit Office, HM Treasury, ONS Local Area Database, and draws on surveys and modelling employed by groups like Cambridge Econometrics and Oxford Economics.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources and partners have included philanthropic foundations and corporate entities similar to relationships seen between Wellcome Trust, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Rothschild & Co, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, HSBC, and consultancies such as Arup and Atkins. Collaborative projects have been delivered with public bodies including Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council, North of Tyne Combined Authority, and universities including Lancaster University and University of Leeds. Research funding mechanisms mirror grant arrangements used by European Social Fund projects and bilateral collaborations seen with organisations like CIVITAS and ICLEI.

Influence and Impact

The think tank’s outputs have shaped policy conversations alongside influences from Institute for Government, Policyminds, and Compass. Its analysis has been cited in debates in the House of Commons Library, referenced by MPs such as representatives from Manchester Central (UK Parliament constituency), Leeds West (UK Parliament constituency), Sheffield Heeley (UK Parliament constituency), and local leaders including Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram. It has informed local strategies on transport, housing, and skills that intersect with national programmes like Levelling Up Fund and infrastructure projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques mirror controversies faced by policy institutes such as Policy Exchange and Centre for Social Justice, concerning funding transparency, perceived political alignment, and methodological choices. Debates have referenced standards articulated by bodies like the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and watchdog commentary from outlets such as Private Eye and Guardian Media Group. Issues raised include the role of corporate sponsorship in agenda-setting, comparisons to policy networks like New Local, and disputes over regional statistical interpretations drawn from Office for National Statistics datasets.

Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom Category:Organisations based in Manchester