Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru

What Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru does

Wales Centre for Public Policy (Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru, abbreviated WCPP) is an independent, publicly funded non-profit policy research institute established in 2014 and operating from Cardiff, Wales. As a member of the UK What Works Network, WCPP provides evidence synthesis, commissioned policy research, rapid evidence reviews, and knowledge brokering services to inform Welsh Government policy and improve public service delivery in Wales. The organisation structures its work across three priority areas — Environment and Net Zero, Tackling Inequalities, and Community Wellbeing — and its core outputs include policy reports, evidence reviews, blog commentary, multi-phase research projects, webinars and events, and an ESRC-funded Policy Fellowship programme.

The underlying "technology" of WCPP is methodological rather than digital: the application of systematic review and rapid evidence assessment techniques, combined with stakeholder co-production and expert consultation, to translate academic research into accessible policy guidance. The organisation maintains a content library spanning more than a decade of Welsh-specific policy outputs. It does not offer APIs, software products, or AI-driven tools.

Commercially, WCPP does not operate a traditional revenue model. It generates income through commissioned research contracts with Welsh Government departments, the 22 Welsh local authorities, Public Service Boards, Regional Partnership Boards, and other public bodies, supplemented by grant funding from bodies such as ESRC. All outputs (reports, briefings, events) are provided free of charge to policymakers and practitioners. The organisation's customer base is almost entirely Welsh public-sector entities, with the Welsh Government as the dominant commissioning and funding source.

Name

Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru

Legal name

Wales Centre for Public Policy

Website

https://wcpp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) is a Cardiff-based, publicly funded non-profit policy research institute that provides evidence synthesis, commissioned research, and knowledge brokering to Welsh Government, local authorities, and public service bodies across Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Evidence synthesis
• Public policy analysis
• Knowledge brokering
• Government consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Wales

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Commissioned Research: WCPP generates revenue through commissioned research projects from Welsh Government, local authorities, and public bodies. Projects address specific policy questions and produce reports, briefings, and recommendations for policy and practice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Wales Centre for Public Policy is a non-profit policy research institute that produces commissioned policy research, rapid evidence reviews, systematic evidence syntheses, and expert consultations to inform Welsh Government and public service decision-making. It operates as a knowledge broker, translating academic research into accessible reports, policy briefings, and webinars for Welsh policymakers, local authorities, and public service leaders. As part of the UK What Works Network, it specialises in evidence mobilisation across priority areas of Environment and Net Zero, Tackling Inequalities, and Community Wellbeing.

Product overview

Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) is a policy research institute and member of the What Works Network that provides evidence synthesis, expert analysis, and knowledge mobilization services to improve policy and public services in Wales. The organization operates as a unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, delivering policy reports, evidence reviews, blog commentary, research projects, events, and a Policy Fellowship program. WCPP organizes its work across three priority areas (Environment and Net Zero, Tackling Inequalities, and Community Wellbeing) and produces outputs including reports, policy briefs, webinars, and fellowship programs that connect research evidence with decision-makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Reports and Evidence Reviews Comprehensive policy research reports and evidence reviews synthesising academic research and expert analysis to inform decision-making on public services in Wales. Covers topics such as poverty, health inequalities, local government, and net zero. Commissioned by Welsh Government and public bodies for policymakers and public service practitioners.
• Research Projects Multi-phase commissioned research initiatives addressing complex policy challenges such as poverty stigma, social cohesion, net zero transitions, and community wellbeing. Delivered for Welsh Government departments, local authorities, and public service partners as end-to-end research engagements.
• Events and Webinars Knowledge exchange events including webinars, conferences, and expert panels that connect researchers with policymakers and practitioners across Wales. Used to disseminate research findings and convene expert discussion on Welsh policy priorities.
• WCPP Policy Fellowship An 18-month fellowship programme funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) that enhances knowledge brokering organisations' capabilities in involving people with lived experience in evidence synthesis and policy work. The fellowship is a collaboration between WCPP and ESRC, seconding a research fellow to WCPP.
• WCPP Update Newsletter and Highlights Reports Periodic update publications summarising WCPP activities, recent highlights, and how the organisation bridges the gap between research and decision-making. Distributed to the Welsh policy and public service community.

Quantifiable outcome

• WCPP poverty stigma survey found 25% of Welsh adults experienced poverty stigma in the past year, informing national policy on poverty reduction

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Resourceful Communities PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCPP and the Resourceful Communities Partnership collaborated on research to better understand the role of multisector collaboration in improving community action and wellbeing. The two-phase project produced evidence reviews and a Framework for Action to support collaboration between public services and community organisations in Wales.
• Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help the public sector reach net zero by 2030. WCPP supports the WLGA-coordinated climate change programme by providing evidence and analysis on local authority-led transition approaches.
• Swansea CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCPP partnered with Swansea Council and Swansea Poverty Truth Commissioners to identify what works to tackle poverty stigma at local level. The Voices of Swansea project co-produced evidence-based solutions with community researchers to help public services address poverty stigma.
• Centre for Homelessness ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCPP and the Centre for Homelessness Impact (a fellow What Works Centre) jointly invited Welsh local authorities to submit expressions of interest for evidence support on homelessness and temporary accommodation issues.
• Institute of Welsh AffairscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWCPP partnered with the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) for a pre-election webinar series, hosted by IWA, exploring policy priorities for the upcoming Senedd election and future of Wales.
• International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCPP's poverty stigma survey was supported by IPPO, a partner organisation providing international public policy research coordination and support.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wcfpp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WCfPP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wales-centre-for-public-policy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wales Centre for Public Policy | Canolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru