News & Views
Analysis as politics moves.
Commentary on the political moment, and the reports we publish with our clients.
The Beyond the Budget Series
First post in the series: The “Long-Grass” Budget
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Everything we have published since 2019.
2026
- The Beyond the Budget SeriesFirst post in the series: The “Long-Grass” Budget
- Government must cut red tape to fuel football stadium developmentHenham's very own Joseph in City AM
- Reform Party Conference 2026Henham attended the 2026 Reform Party Conference
- Not so much a safe pick as a very deliberate oneWhat Andy Burnham saw in John Healey – and what it signals for place-based growth
- What might we expect from a Burnham premiership
- Events Industry Alliance appoints Henham Strategy as its public affairs partnerHenham begins work for the Events Industry Alliance, the trade body collectively representing hundreds of organisers, venues and suppliers across the UK exhibitions and business events sector.
- Bridging the Capital Gap for UK Research CommercialisationOriginal analysis for The Pioneer Group and The Crown Estate on how to turn the UK's world-class research commercial success.
2025
- 2025 Budget Analysis: The breathing space Budget?An analysis of the 2025 Budget by our Director, Alex
- Conservative Party Conference 2025: Notes from ManchesterOn the ground notes from Manchester at the 2025 Conservative Party Conference
- Labour Party Conference 2025: Reform or Renew?
- Banking on Change: The New City MinisterThe fallout from Angela Rayner’s sudden exit from government continued to play out into this week, with a far-reaching reshuffle of the Prime Minister’s ministerial team. Celia Clark, Account Director, looks at what's in store for the new City Minister
- Financing the Future - Building a Smarter State Through Digital Public ServicesHenham Strategy was proud to develop this report with techUK, in partnership with its members - it makes clear the case for a fundamental shift in approach to procurement processes and funding models for digital procurement to drive long-term, sustainable digital transformation that will boost productivity and economic growth.
- Reform Party Conference 2025: Energy, Ambition and Unresolved QuestionsHenham's Managing Director, Nick King, shares his reflections on Reform's 2025 Party Conference
- The Role of Universities in Regional PlacemakingHenham was pleased to work with the UPP Foundation to deliver a series of senior roundtable discussions in four regions across England, exploring the role of universities in regional placemaking. The final report explores the key themes of the discussions.
- Industrial Strategy 2025: AnalysisHenham Strategy breaks down the Government’s new Industrial Strategy which sets out a sector-focused vision to boost the UK's productivity and growth.
- Spending Review 2025: AnalysisThe Chancellor sets out Labour’s spending priorities for the remainder of the Parliament, with a focus on capital investment, constrained departmental budgets, and growing pressure on future tax decisions.
- UKREiiF 2025: Lessons from LeedsThat’s a wrap on UKREiiF 2025 – the best yet in all of the four years we’ve attended. The sun shone down in Leeds this week as we joined developers, businesses, investors, mayors and local authority leaders to discuss ways to unlock investment and drive regeneration and development across the UK.
- Great South West Housing Investment Prospectus 2025We were delighted to work with the Great South West Partnership to bring together a housing prospectus, launched at UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds.
- 2025 Planning & Infrastructure Bill: Analysis and HighlightsHenham Strategy unpacks the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill which aims to fast-track development, unlock clean energy investment, and deliver on Labour’s ambitious growth and housing targets.
2024
- Foundations For The Future: How Data Centres Can Supercharge UK Economic Growth‘Foundations For The Future’ shines a light on an industry that is essential to our modern-day economy, with data centres enabling the technology we rely on every day.
- A lukewarm take on the Budget…Nick Glover, Director – Local Growth at Henham, shares his take on the Chancellor’s latest Budget, exploring its potential impact on UK businesses and the broader economic landscape.
- 2024 Fintech Founders Summer SurveyThe Fintech Founders Annual Survey for 2024 focused on the sector’s view of Labour, finding there is room for improvement from the new government.
- Labour Party Conference 2024: The End of the Honeymoon?As the curtain falls on this year’s Labour Party Conference 2024, Henham Consultant, Celia Clark, takes a look at the key takeaways from Liverpool.
- Lessons from Japan: Should Britain have Japan’s level of devolution?Hector Anderson, Henham’s 2024 Summer Intern, shares his opinion on Japan’s approach to devolution. He is currently studying International Relations and Chinese at the LSE.
- Inside Fintech Founders, the exclusive network of fintechs execs with a line to the UK governmentSifted fintech reporter Tom Matsuda interviewed Fintech Founder co-chair Christian Faes and managing director Nick King to discuss the group’s history and plans.
- Universities and business collaborationOur Managing Director, Nick King contributed to the UPP Foundation’s essay collection exploring the future of universities.
- UK General Election 2024: Change Begins?A few hours after the final results were counted, Henham Managing Director, Nick King responds to the result of the 2024 General Election and incoming Labour Government.
- Planning for the Long Term: Policies to support family businessWe developed an impactful advocacy paper for Family Business UK, making the strongest possible case for the retention of Business Property Relief (BPR) in advance of the Labour government’s first Budget in October 2024.
- A Week in Westminster: Unpacking the 2024 ManifestosNow that both Labour and Conservative Party have published their manifestos, Henham Consultant, Celia Clark shares her thoughts after a week of policy announcements and promises.
- Funding local growth was arguably the key theme at UKREiiFNick Glover, Director of Local Growth, reflects on the problem in the current funding system for local government in the UK and how it can be improved.
- Evolution not revolution?: Labour’s plans for financial servicesCelia Clark, Consultant at Henham, has written an opinion piece about Labour’s latest proposals for the financial services sector as it launches a charm offensive with the City ahead of the upcoming General Election.
- Invest in UK University R&D Midlands Campaign
- The South West is GreatWe were delighted to work with the Great South West Partnership to bring together an investment prospectus, launched at UKREiiF 2024.
- A 3 Step Guide to Better Government and Industry CollaborationOne of our Directors, Kate Fairhurst, wrote for techUK explaining her top three tips for tech businesses seeking to work with local government.
- Unlocking the potential of local placesKate Fairhurst, Director, writes about the vital importance of stronger public-private partnerships in driving the prosperity of local places.
- The Road to the 2024 Election Manifesto – 100 policy ideas for sport, physical activity and wellbeing.Henham Managing Director, Nick King, writes about the soft power potential of sport in the Sports Think Tank’s ‘The Road to the 2024 Election’ Manifesto.
- Learning from LEP integrationIn January 2024, in recognition of the challenges and opportunities for local authorities in integrating Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Henham Strategy was commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) to undertake a series of workshops and produce a report, drawing out learning and good practice, along with recommendations. This report was independently developed, researched, and written by Henham Strategy. All views are the authors’ own.
2023
- Delivering for North Essex: Economic Strategy and Delivery PlanWe were delighted to work with the North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) to develop their exciting new Economic Strategy and Delivery Plan.
- Improving Social Value in Technology ProcurementWorking closely with techUK’s Public Services Board (PSB), we developed a comprehensive policy report unpacking the challenges around central government’s application of social value within technology procurement. This report presented key recommendations to deliver enhanced social value outcomes.
- Local Digital Index 2023Henham Strategy provided data and analysis to underpin techUK’s 2023 ‘Local Digital Index’ which assesses the strength of the tech sector across the UK’s nations and regions.
- The UK has a duty to use its soft power as a force for goodIn an article for the Coalition for Global Prosperity, Kate Fairhurst, Director at Henham, argues the UK’s soft power is one of our greatest strengths.
- Britain’s industrial strategy is still missing in actionIn an article for the Financial Times, Ben Westerman, Director of Energy and Net Zero at Henham Strategy comments “what the IRA does is provide a decade of policy clarity from the point of recovering tax credits with little bureaucracy”.
- Fintech Founders Summer Survey 2023The Fintech Founder annual summer survey gives insight to the state of the sector and what founders want to see from Government. This year’s theme was AI and cloud technology.
- Skills to pay the bills?Kate Fairhurst, Director at Henham, looks at the skills shortage holding back the UK’s economy and how local partnerships can be formed to boost economic growth.
- Retail TherapyThe Retail Therapy report by Nick King argues that retail investing in the UK needs support to unlock economic and social benefits.
- Government plans for a new ‘voice of the North’ organisation to help grow region’s economyHenham Strategy were commissioned by the NP11 in May 2023 to explore how best to establish a Northern Pan-Regional Partnership (PRP). This was a politically sensitive project that required a sensitive approach to stakeholder engagement to deliver expected outcomes.
2022
- Local Digital Capital Index 2022Henham Strategy provided data and analysis to underpin techUK’s 2022 ‘Local Digital Index’ which assesses the strength of the tech sector across the UK’s nations and regions.
- Fintech Founders Summer Survey 2022The 2022 edition of the Fintech Founders annual survey shows that the UK needs to do more to support its strength in this sector, with a specific focus on cryptocurrency. Founders called on the Government to do more.
- Why Choose Britain?In a report written with the Centre for Policy Studies, Henham Strategy’s Managing Director, Nick King, argues that the UK has been losing ground as an attractive place to do business. In order to regain our position, the UK must make Britian the natural home for investors and investment with recommended actions including enhancing tax breaks that boost investment.
- Trading UpIn this report Nick King, Managing Director at Henham, argues that free trade should be a cornerstone of Britain’s post-Brexit foreign and domestic policy, examining how the UK can increase exports and centre itself in the global campaign for free and fair trade.
2021
- Local Digital Capital Index 2021Henham Strategy provided data and analysis to underpin techUK’s ‘Local Digital Capital Index’ which assesses the strength of the tech sector across the UK’s nations and regions.
- Fintech Founders Summer Survey 2021The 2021 edition of the Fintech Founders annual survey builds on the publication of the Kalifa Review of UK Fintech, published earlier in the year.
- A Northern Big Bang: Unleashing Investment in the NorthNick King, Managing Director at Henham, with the Rt. Hon Jake Berry, former Minister without Portfolio, makes the case for a new ‘Big Bang’ for the North to unleash investment into the Northern economy, deliver productivity gains, economic growth and higher wages.
2020
- Upwardly Mobile: How the UK can gain the full benefits of the 5G revolutionNick King, with Alex Jackman, discuss the UK’s struggle to lead the current 5G revolution, despite its past industrial leadership, and the economic potential of expanding 5G.
- Fintech Founders Summer Survey 2020The Fintech Founders annual survey was taken in the middle of the Covid pandemic, a particularly turbulent time for busineses. Members shared their views on how the government could do more to support the sector.
- Making Counties Count: Weaving a New Tapestry for Local GovernmentHenham Strategy were commissioned by the County Councils Network to make the case for the role of counties in the Government’s devolution agenda: a report that then formed the basis for some recommendations within the final Levelling Up White Paper in 2022.
2019
- A Rising Tide: Levelling up left-behind BritainIn this report for the Centre for Policy Studies, Nick King, argues that there are four areas where Government can take action to improve the UK’s unbalanced economy, with London and the South East dominating. Looking at devolution, infrastructure, Opportunity Zones, and skills, the report puts forward recommendations on how the under-performing areas of the county could level up.
- British Horseracing’s International InfluenceThe UK Government is currently developing a “soft power” strategy, which involves maximising the country’s economic and cultural influence to further diplomatic and commercial objectives. Henham Strategy has developed a report that showcases British Racing’s soft power and the enormous potential is has for the UK Government to take advantage of.
- Think Small – A blueprint for supporting UK small businessesNick King, Managing Director at Henham, makes the case for a new Simple Consolidated Tax in ‘Think Small’, a Centre for Policy Studies report which looks to provide greater support for small businesses.