Test, learn and grow

Public Digital is part of the Test & Learn Partnership - a consortium appointed by the Cabinet Office to deliver the UK Government’s Test, Learn and Grow (TLG) programme.

Designed to drive innovation and reform across public services, the three-year initiative is being led by a strategic delivery partnership made up of three expert organisations in public service design and delivery. The consortium was appointed in May and formally began work in June.

• Public Digital, serving as the prime contractor, the transformation consultancy known for pioneering test-and-learn approaches within public institutions globally
• The Government Outcomes Lab, an academic centre based at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, specialising in connecting research and practice to evaluate the impact of outcomes-oriented public sector reforms
• New Local, a think tank, practice organisation and network for over 50 local authorities and partners, focused on transforming public services and unlocking community power.

The TLG programme is a £100m, three-year initiative aimed at reshaping how public services are designed and delivered across the UK, and follows a call from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden in December 2024 for Whitehall to adopt the “test and learn culture” of the best digital companies and best-in-class policy and public service delivery models.

One of the programme’s central ambitions is to create a sustained movement for change, inspiring people and building networks across local and central government to participate in and embrace test-and-learn practices.

The TLG programme is focusing initially on two key workstreams: 

1. How local authorities can build capability to embed a test-and-learn in the development and delivery of services
2. Generating evidence on the effectiveness and scaling potential of the TLG approach for wider public sector reform.

Ultimately, the ambition is for Test and Learn to become the default approach to policy and delivery, resulting in improved services, reduced costs, and a government "rewired" for sustainable, user-centred approaches.

Andrew Greenway, Co-Founder of Public Digital, and one of the authors of 2024’s ‘The Radical How’, which argues for governments to embrace Test & Learn approaches at scale, said:

“Democracies around the world are recognising they need to rebuild state capacity in order to meet their voters’ expectations and respond to an uncertain future. That will require radically different ways of thinking and working across government; making what’s currently exceptional the norm. The TLG partnership is an exciting opportunity to accelerate that, and Public Digital is proud to be a part of this movement.”

Jessica Studdert, Chief Executive of New Local, said:

"New Local's mission is to transform public services and unlock community power, so we are really pleased to be part of this partnership which has these aims at heart. Many in local government have been championing this way of working for years, as they respond to demand pressures and reorient how they work with communities to ensure outcomes. The Test, Learn and Grow programme is a unique national and local partnership which will deepen our understanding of the conditions for change and we are excited for the impact it will have".

Professor Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government, said:

“As governments around the world seek innovative ways to tackle inequality, strengthen accountability, and deliver greater value for money, this initiative presents a timely opportunity to identify what works in local communities - and expand this approach - to improve lives across the UK. We are pleased that the Blavatnik School will be the independent learning and evaluation partner, advancing our mission to connect world-class research with real-world practice and inspire better government around the globe.”