Launching a think tank

Since 2023, di:ga has collaborated with the Audit Reform Lab, a think tank based at the University of Sheffield, to push to make the UK’s audit system more transparent and effective. We helped launch the think tank in October 2023, and continue to advise on all aspects of political advocacy and strategic comms.

We worked with the Lab to develop clear and compelling policy asks, political briefings and Parliamentary questions, making the argument that audit reform is necessary to safeguard jobs, ensure economic growth and protect the public purse. Through targeted political outreach we secured meetings with politicians, special advisors and civil servants, with both MPs and Peers mentioning the Audit Reform Lab’s research in the Houses of Parliament. Our work with the Lab helped lead to the government announcing a Draft Audit Reform Bill in the 2024 King’s Speech, and we continue to help the Lab feed into the policymaking process.

Alongside political advocacy, di:ga has served as the Lab’s press office function. We refined and then pitched their flagship Reward for Failure report to the media, gaining coverage in the FT (and FT Editorial), Times, Telegraph and Bloomberg. For the Lab’s research into Birmingham City Council’s audit failures, we secured coverage on the front page of the FT and in the BBC (online and television), The Guardian, and Times Radio.