Good policy changes lives
About us
Upstream is a consultancy dedicated to good policy.
We work for companies, public bodies, and charities. We provide them with research, strategy and improvement support.
We work across policy disciplines. Our strengths are in public services, economic development and place, and arts and culture.
We help organisations go upstream: understand their purpose, define their challenges, and achieve their goals.
What we believe
We founded Upstream after years thinking there was a gap for a new kind of advisory firm.
We saw social research that was robust - but lacked the operational and political insight to create clear recommendations.
We saw management consultancy that was great at recommendations - but less good at delivery, and how to sell a plan to funders, partners and government.
We saw public affairs agencies that could craft a lovely soundbite - but lacked research depth and management experience.
In between the worlds of traditional social research, management consultancy, and public affairs, there is something that combines the best of all three. That’s what we offer.
Our sectors
Arts, culture & heritage
Public services
Economic development & place
Major arts funders, sector development bodies, network organisations, individual institutions
Charities, providers, national regulators and quality improvement, central government
Innovation centres, local authorities, regional economic development organisations, industry bodies, universities
Our services
Researching new ideas, developing policy, and analysing political and delivery risks.
Policy research and analysis
Helping leaders and organisations understand their purpose, perceptions, and future direction.
Strategy definition
Operational advice, development and planning, as well as classic evaluations, social research and impact assessment.
Improvement
Some of our clients
