Welcome to the Policy Laboratory

MPS is passionate about research that makes change happen. Our policy laboratories are part of that. We believe that collectively we hold more of the answers to the challenges we face than we realise. MPS policy laboratories are experiments in bringing people together to solve problems. We act as a connector and a catalyst, carefully designing processes through which policy research and influencing moves beyond reports and recommendations. Our policy laboratories delve into the nitty gritty of implementation to create changes that make migration better for all.

What is an MPS Policy Laboratory

Our policy laboratories are carefully designed to fit the challenge they seek to address. So each one is different, but the focus each time is to bring practitioners and policy makers into closer, more productive exchange. MPS supports this collaborative process helping to develop and embed tools and resources that make recommendations real on the ground. We seek to measure the impacts of these changes through pilots and trials.

MPS Policy Laboratory on Poverty

MPS first policy laboratory was launched as part of our project on Tackling Financial Disadvantage in Migrant Households. This policy laboratory took an innovative approach to making change happen by connecting practitioner perspectives more closely into policy. We helped people to work closely together to develop practical resources that make new solutions possible.

The focus was to develop resources that would improve the situation of financially disadvantaged migrant households by better equipping organisations and services to provide migrants with the advice and support they need. The policy laboratory brought together 23 public and third sector support organisations specialising in employability, financial inclusion, income maximisation, energy advice.

The result is four pathfinder initiatives:

How did the policy laboratory on poverty work?

Over a 9-month process we co-developed feasible, fundable and effective solutions for migrant households experiencing poverty.

During an initial 3-month discovery phase MPS engaged with a wide range of organisations about our research findings and recommendations, seeking direct feedback and discussing actions we could take forward collectively to develop resources that have positive impacts. The discovery phase helped to identify the participants who would be more directly involved in the subsequent 6-month design phase of the policy laboratory. Our 23 participating organisations were based across Scotland and had a variety of experience in supporting migrants as service users. All agreed to contribute staff time to designing pathway initiatives during the design phase of the policy laboratory.

Drawing on evidence from our research and follow-up conversations, the discovery phase culminated in two online kickstart events in February 2025, each focusing on a key theme (underpinned by a working principle):

  • Better joined-up services (No Wrong Door approach)
  • Person-centred approaches (Intercultural awareness and communication)

Through an intensive, facilitated discussion process, participants collectively agreed and selected potential interventions and began planning the four pathfinder initiatives each of which was taken forward by a sub-group of policy laboratory participants.

Sharing our learning

A final event on 3rd September 2025 showcases outcomes and shares learning from the pathfinder initiatives. It also outlines future plans for follow on work to build on these by trialling the resources we developed and seeking to evaluate their impact.

Find out more

Listen to MPS Researcher Leri Price explain the policy laboratory in more detail during her presentation to the Rural Social Enterprise Hub in March 2024.

Updates on the work of the policy laboratory will be shared through regular updates to this page and through our MPS newsletter

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