Over the past year, the work of the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) has spread into new countries and issues: we have conducted 163 trials in 25 countries, opened offices in Singapore and New Zealand, and expanded our work in Australia and North America.

Our focus remains on social impact, but with a gradual shift to more complex behavioural challenges. Our ongoing interventions are making longer-term and deeper impacts, such as the 27 per cent increase in maths or English pass rates of further education students experiencing our ‘study supporter’ intervention, at a cost of less than £10 per student.

In order to address an increasing range of challenges, we have expanded the range of techniques we are using. For example, this year has seen the creation of a new Data Science team within BIT which has begun to explore the use of machine learning to improve and tailor interventions.

Results from across our UK team’s work this year include:

A 20 per cent reduction in speeding in the six months after including a one-side explanation of why and how speeding limits are set in police correspondence to drivers caught speeding.

in the six months after including a one-side explanation of why and how speeding limits are set in police correspondence to drivers caught speeding. A 34 per cent increase in acceptances by students from under-represented schools to top universities following a letter from a current top-tier university student from a similar background.

following a letter from a current top-tier university student from a similar background. A ten fold increase in the proportion of savers visiting the Pension Wise website when sent a one-side ‘Pension Passport’ rather than the standard pension ‘wake-up’ pack.

when sent a one-side ‘Pension Passport’ rather than the standard pension ‘wake-up’ pack. An 8% reduction in annual household gas consumption following installation of smart heating controls . This significantly outperforms loft and cavity-wall insulation pound-for-pound, and could cut millions from consumers’ energy bills.

. This significantly outperforms loft and cavity-wall insulation pound-for-pound, and could cut millions from consumers’ energy bills. A 38 per cent reduction in patient referrals to over-booked hospitals , resulting from a pop-up prompt in the GP referral system. The intervention is now being scaled across the NHS.

, resulting from a pop-up prompt in the GP referral system. The intervention is now being scaled across the NHS. A 25 per cent increase in ‘social trust’ among young people with low levels of social trust, measured four weeks after the introduction of a ten-minute ice-breaker discussion about the similarities between participants at the beginning of National Citizen Service.

with low levels of social trust, measured four weeks after the introduction of a ten-minute ice-breaker discussion about the similarities between participants at the beginning of National Citizen Service. A 28 per cent increase in comprehension of privacy notices required for a back-to-work programme, following a rewrite which also dramatically reduced their length.

required for a back-to-work programme, following a rewrite which also dramatically reduced their length. Successful demonstration of a feedback platform for government purchasing, which we believe will promote improved purchasing and the more rapid growth of high-performing small and medium-sized enterprises.

Our work with partners outside the UK includes: