OU research helps shape a more collaborative UK

The Open University’s (OU) PolicyWISE initiative is at the forefront of shaping the UK’s evolving model of territorial governance, with Director Dewi Knight co-authoring a new landmark report on the Council of the Nations and Regions – a flagship innovation of the new Labour government elected in 2024.

The Council was created to foster deeper collaboration between the UK government, devolved administrations, and England’s ‘metro mayors’, addressing long-standing challenges in how the country’s governments work together. The report, co-authored by Dewi Knight at the OU and Alex Walker and Professor Michael Kenny of the Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge, is the first substantial examination of the Council’s potential and its impact on intergovernmental relations.

Drawing on interviews with senior stakeholders across the four UK governments, English regional leaders, and parliamentary officials, alongside international case studies from Canada and Australia, the report highlights the opportunity to usher in a new era of “collaborative territorial governance.” This approach emphasises partnership working across political and territorial divides, recognising that in today’s diverse political landscape, no government can deliver its priorities in isolation.

“Strengthening trust and collaboration between governments is critical if we are to achieve shared goals – from economic growth to tackling climate change,” said Dewi Knight. “This research shows how the Council of the Nations and Regions can be a catalyst for that culture change.”

The study also drew heavily on insights from a series of cross-nation policy learning roundtables convened by PolicyWISE in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, and Manchester. These sessions brought together policymakers, analysts, politicians, economists, parliamentary officials, think-tank leaders, and academics to share knowledge and debate the future of intergovernmental working. The findings have already been fed into government thinking, with officials across the UK engaging with the report as they review structures for intergovernmental cooperation.

PolicyWISE’s role in the research demonstrates the OU’s commitment to impactful, collaborative, and comparative policy research. Since its establishment, the initiative has provided a neutral, trusted space for governments and regional authorities to exchange ideas and evidence across political and territorial boundaries. By partnering with the University of Cambridge on this project, PolicyWISE reinforced its mission to generate research that does not compete but collaborates, ensuring the widest possible influence on public policy debates.

The work is already shaping practice. All four governments of the UK have been briefed on the findings, and engagement continues as policymakers consider reforms to intergovernmental structures. Later this year, the authors will publish two journal articles to extend the reach of their analysis, while Dewi Knight has presented the findings at major policy conferences, including the UK Association of Public Administration’s annual conference in Belfast and Nesta’s Policy Live! in London.

This collaboration highlights the OU’s research excellence in influencing national policy debates at the highest level. As the Council of the Nations and Regions develops, the OU – through PolicyWISE – is helping to ensure that the UK’s new model of territorial governance is grounded in evidence, informed by international best practice, and shaped by a commitment to constructive collaboration.