Urban Lab is a multi-disciplinary centre for policy research and expert collaboration at Westminster City Council
Our vision
Our vision is to be a leading hub for innovative and robust policy research among local authorities, and a laboratory of ideas for testing “what works” in enabling our borough to thrive, in close collaboration with our research partners.
Our team consists of in-house analysts and policy officers whose expertise covers a broad range of topics that align with council priorities. Our current topics of work include:
- economics
- environment
- creative arts policy
- migration
- technology
- public sector innovation
- high-streets and place shaping
- public health
Building a Fairer Westminster
We are passionate about understanding the key issues that face local communities and identifying the best approaches to support a fair and flourishing Westminster. We work across a broad range of council services to improve outcomes for our residents through enabling evidence-led policy and iterative improvements.
An important part of our work is to connect council officers and policy-makers with external subject-matter experts. This can support council work through collaborative research, cutting-edge experimental trials, and robust evidence-building.
We seek to build close, mutually enriching partnerships with researchers whose expertise aligns with our priorities. This includes:
- exploring opportunities to apply for joint research funds
- sharing skills, our network and relevant data
- hosting masters and PhD students for work experience and dissertation research on policy-relevant topics
Contact us
Infographic illustration by upklyak on Freepik.