Halpern is tasked with supporting the development of a planned six independent centres that will gather and share the evidence on what works, to inform government policy-making in health, education, crime reduction, early intervention ageing and local economic growth.

What Works was announced by the government in March. The intention is for the network to assess and guide decision-making for £200bn of public spending.

Halpern will continue to head up the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insight Team – the aforementioned ‘Nudge Unit’ – alongside his new role.

He said: “The creation of the What Works centres, network and National Adviser role represents a step change in how government uses and generates evidence, and has the potential to improve everything we do, from the humblest detail of a form to a grand sweep of policy.”

• The work of Halpern and the Nudge Unit is profiled in the next issue of our sister title Impact, the new quarterly magazine from the Market Research Society. See here for more information and to find out how to subscribe.