About us
The Centre for Progressive Policy is a think tank that champions inclusive economic growth.
We believe that economic growth is a force for good: it is essential for raising living standards, and it can and should be delivered in line with the path to net zero. But the default model of ‘growing the pie’ first and redistributing the proceeds later does not work. The benefits of growth do not trickle down and efforts to reduce high and rising inequalities through taxation and welfare only take us so far. Instead, we need a model of economic growth that unlocks the productivity potential of all people and all places. At CPP we call this model inclusive growth.
CPP exists to make inclusive growth a reality in the UK. We host the Inclusive Growth Network of places across the UK pioneering new approaches on the ground. As a thinktank, we focus on:
Place – There are profound inequalities within and between places in the UK. CPP highlights the powerful role devolution can play in developing and delivering targeted, integrated and effective solutions. We also evaluate the impact of national policy on different places, and the effect this has on growth.
Productivity – Effective industrial strategy, private sector investment and quality job creation are essential for driving the productivity growth that will enhance living standards for people and places. We put forward ideas to attract inward investment, foster innovation and create thriving and resilient supply chains – including and especially in places underperforming their economic potential.
Public services – New jobs and opportunities must be matched with a healthy workforce, affordable childcare, access to skills and training and effective public transport if the benefits are to be felt fairly across society. CPP advocates for strong and effective public services to enable more people to participate in the economy, enhance the productivity of individuals and communities and help to spread the benefits of growth more fairly between people and places across the UK.
CPP is independent and impartial. We are a not-for-profit organisation and we are not aligned with any political party.
Please find our privacy notice here. For any enquiries email info@progressive-policy.net
Team
Ben Franklin
Interim Chief Executive
Ben is CPP’s Interim Chief Executive. At CPP he has overseen impactful programmes of work on the importance of health, adult education and childcare to inclusive growth. His research has appeared in all major national and regional media – print and broadcast, and he has advised national politicians and local leaders on the linkages between growth, inequality and public services. Before this, Ben was Assistant Director at the International Longevity Centre, where he led major projects on the employment challenges facing the over 50s and the future of the UK’s pensions landscape. Prior to working in thinktanks, Ben undertook economic analysis for the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury. He has also worked for a professional body in the insurance industry.
Rosie Fogden
Director of Research and Analysis (maternity leave)
Rosie joined CPP in 2019 as a Senior Research Analyst and now manages our research programme. She has written on the importance of long-term investment in public services and the role of business in making our economy more inclusive, including through good jobs. Before CPP, Rosie worked as a Senior Economist in the Cabinet Office, supporting Brexit preparations. She has also held several other government positions, including in the international group at HM Treasury.
Areas of expertise and interest: good and flexible work, social infrastructure, public service investment, childcare and early years, public health, inclusive economics, fiscal policy.
Tanya Singh
Research Analyst
Tanya is a research analyst with interests in poverty, inequality, social policy, and impact evaluation. She has worked as a researcher with several think tanks in India, with her most recent work being at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), New Delhi. Tanya holds an MSc in International Development from King’s College London alongside a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Delhi.
Areas of expertise and interest: economics of poverty and inequality, social policy and redistribution, policy impact evaluation, comparative international development.
Annabel Smith
Director of Place and Practice
Annabel is Director of Place and Practice at CPP and is responsible for leading our Inclusive Growth Network, working with cities and regions across the UK to drive local inclusive growth. Before joining CPP in 2021, Annabel played a leading role in developing Bristol's One City Approach, where she also worked as a Policy Advisor to the Mayor. She holds an MA from the University of St Andrews, and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge researching gender and economics.
Areas of expertise and interest: regional economies and inequalities, devolution, placemaking, culture, gender, social mobility.