Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
Day job: climate change, heat pumps, energy at Nesta
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Pinned
Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Delighted to publish this personal essay by me and John: Getting Britain out of the hole.
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
January 1, 2026 at 11:32 PM
The Traitors switching to an 8pm start is causing a serious diplomatic incident in our household (because of the overlap with bedtime…)
January 1, 2026 at 6:04 PM
The Traitors switching to an 8pm start is causing a serious diplomatic incident in our household (because of the overlap with bedtime…)
Middle age starts at 35, don’t @ me, join me on this hill
One of the weird things about entering your late 30s is seeing your friends age: losing a bit of vitality, withdrawing, becoming set or worn
Its one thing to notice in yourself, its another to see it in those you love
Its one thing to notice in yourself, its another to see it in those you love
January 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Middle age starts at 35, don’t @ me, join me on this hill
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Really hoping 2025 was the year global greenhouse gas emissions peaked. It might have been one of the most historic years in human history.
December 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Really hoping 2025 was the year global greenhouse gas emissions peaked. It might have been one of the most historic years in human history.
Mansun’s Taxloss for me.
The director threw 25 grand in cash off the balcony at Liverpool Street Station and filmed it badly
youtu.be/vGtCMzdNV60?...
The director threw 25 grand in cash off the balcony at Liverpool Street Station and filmed it badly
youtu.be/vGtCMzdNV60?...
December 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Mansun’s Taxloss for me.
The director threw 25 grand in cash off the balcony at Liverpool Street Station and filmed it badly
youtu.be/vGtCMzdNV60?...
The director threw 25 grand in cash off the balcony at Liverpool Street Station and filmed it badly
youtu.be/vGtCMzdNV60?...
This is interesting.
No idea how useful or important making purer semi-conductors in the vacuum of space is, but: a) an example of the kind of manufacturing UK can be good at; b) it seems like an actual use case for going to space…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
No idea how useful or important making purer semi-conductors in the vacuum of space is, but: a) an example of the kind of manufacturing UK can be good at; b) it seems like an actual use case for going to space…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK company sends factory with 1,000C furnace into space
A factory in space has been switched on and has reached temperatures of about 1,000C.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This is interesting.
No idea how useful or important making purer semi-conductors in the vacuum of space is, but: a) an example of the kind of manufacturing UK can be good at; b) it seems like an actual use case for going to space…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
No idea how useful or important making purer semi-conductors in the vacuum of space is, but: a) an example of the kind of manufacturing UK can be good at; b) it seems like an actual use case for going to space…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pov: your father was a tyrannical ruler who chopped off your mother’s head, your guardian molested you from the age of 14, your sister locked you up in the Tower of London, you survived and became Queen and people still wonder why you didn’t want to get married to a man…
December 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Pov: your father was a tyrannical ruler who chopped off your mother’s head, your guardian molested you from the age of 14, your sister locked you up in the Tower of London, you survived and became Queen and people still wonder why you didn’t want to get married to a man…
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
British business has an opportunity to defy the gloom - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Nice optimism from John Gapper
I think there's normally a systemic negative bias that leads people to underestimate how things might outperform expectations. Combination of:
- trend following .... 1/
Nice optimism from John Gapper
I think there's normally a systemic negative bias that leads people to underestimate how things might outperform expectations. Combination of:
- trend following .... 1/
British business has an opportunity to defy the gloom
Entrepreneurs are more optimistic than the headlines about the UK’s economic potential
giftarticle.ft.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:24 AM
British business has an opportunity to defy the gloom - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Nice optimism from John Gapper
I think there's normally a systemic negative bias that leads people to underestimate how things might outperform expectations. Combination of:
- trend following .... 1/
Nice optimism from John Gapper
I think there's normally a systemic negative bias that leads people to underestimate how things might outperform expectations. Combination of:
- trend following .... 1/
*reluctantly puts on work hat*
The Warm Homes Plan will be electrification first, which will be quite a big policy shift.
The challenge, as ever, will be money. It costs something like £25k to install solar, a battery and a heat pump in a typical home…
The Warm Homes Plan will be electrification first, which will be quite a big policy shift.
The challenge, as ever, will be money. It costs something like £25k to install solar, a battery and a heat pump in a typical home…
Sounds like the end of the 'fabric first' mantra being set out here.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
Electrifying homes is the way of the future, with solar panels, batteries and heat pumps being the focus of government subsidy.
THE TIMES: Solar grants for millions to cut home energy use #TomorrowsPapersToday
December 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
*reluctantly puts on work hat*
The Warm Homes Plan will be electrification first, which will be quite a big policy shift.
The challenge, as ever, will be money. It costs something like £25k to install solar, a battery and a heat pump in a typical home…
The Warm Homes Plan will be electrification first, which will be quite a big policy shift.
The challenge, as ever, will be money. It costs something like £25k to install solar, a battery and a heat pump in a typical home…
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Many congratulations to the economists in the New Year Honours list - I spotted Paul Mizen, Andrew Scott, Tony Travers, Nancy Hey (@worklifeyou.bsky.social), Jonathan Wadsworth; and a special welcome to the Damehood for Wendy Carlin of @coreecon.bsky.social !
December 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Many congratulations to the economists in the New Year Honours list - I spotted Paul Mizen, Andrew Scott, Tony Travers, Nancy Hey (@worklifeyou.bsky.social), Jonathan Wadsworth; and a special welcome to the Damehood for Wendy Carlin of @coreecon.bsky.social !
Oh wow there’s a new Beta Band KEXP.
Exciting because there is not that much good live footage of them out there ime
youtu.be/VFfouWrR6lY?...
Exciting because there is not that much good live footage of them out there ime
youtu.be/VFfouWrR6lY?...
The Beta Band - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
YouTube video by KEXP
youtu.be
December 29, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Oh wow there’s a new Beta Band KEXP.
Exciting because there is not that much good live footage of them out there ime
youtu.be/VFfouWrR6lY?...
Exciting because there is not that much good live footage of them out there ime
youtu.be/VFfouWrR6lY?...
Nice piece asking why companies don’t target the older consumer more.
Over-55s account for roughly half of all global consumer spending (bit depressing tbh) but only a fraction of advertising spend…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Over-55s account for roughly half of all global consumer spending (bit depressing tbh) but only a fraction of advertising spend…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Why don’t companies target over 55s as consumers more?
Age group accounts for a rising share of spending but only a fraction of advertising budgets is aimed at it
giftarticle.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Nice piece asking why companies don’t target the older consumer more.
Over-55s account for roughly half of all global consumer spending (bit depressing tbh) but only a fraction of advertising spend…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Over-55s account for roughly half of all global consumer spending (bit depressing tbh) but only a fraction of advertising spend…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Aside from the political risks, there are two market issues with YouTube / platforms taking over TV:
1. Relying on advertising revenue rather than subscriptions surely means less revenue (and more consumer surplus) overall
2. Creators / businesses always at the mercy of the algorithm
1. Relying on advertising revenue rather than subscriptions surely means less revenue (and more consumer surplus) overall
2. Creators / businesses always at the mercy of the algorithm
December 28, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Aside from the political risks, there are two market issues with YouTube / platforms taking over TV:
1. Relying on advertising revenue rather than subscriptions surely means less revenue (and more consumer surplus) overall
2. Creators / businesses always at the mercy of the algorithm
1. Relying on advertising revenue rather than subscriptions surely means less revenue (and more consumer surplus) overall
2. Creators / businesses always at the mercy of the algorithm
Happy Christmas from sunny Cornwall!
December 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Happy Christmas from sunny Cornwall!
One of my jobs at the Environment Agency was to get the Treasury to pay to fix the navigations we ran.
I think it’s fair to say that England’s waterways are not in a great state of repair, and that this could be quite a big headache…
I think it’s fair to say that England’s waterways are not in a great state of repair, and that this could be quite a big headache…
December 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
One of my jobs at the Environment Agency was to get the Treasury to pay to fix the navigations we ran.
I think it’s fair to say that England’s waterways are not in a great state of repair, and that this could be quite a big headache…
I think it’s fair to say that England’s waterways are not in a great state of repair, and that this could be quite a big headache…
When I was at school, my mum sewed labels into every single item of my clothing with our surname and postcode on.
I used to get teased quite a bit about this, but one day a lone football sock turned up in the post, in an envelope with Sissons CH3 … written on it
I used to get teased quite a bit about this, but one day a lone football sock turned up in the post, in an envelope with Sissons CH3 … written on it
A fun thing about the Royal Mail is that you can basically put anything on an envelope and as long as the postcode is right they’ll almost certainly figure it out
There are still loads of houses on this road that have put the former name up, it's quite confusing
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023...
December 22, 2025 at 10:47 AM
When I was at school, my mum sewed labels into every single item of my clothing with our surname and postcode on.
I used to get teased quite a bit about this, but one day a lone football sock turned up in the post, in an envelope with Sissons CH3 … written on it
I used to get teased quite a bit about this, but one day a lone football sock turned up in the post, in an envelope with Sissons CH3 … written on it
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
We've put out loads of work on the affordability of energy and heating over the last couple of months, so thought I'd do a quick recap in case anyone is looking for xmas reading...
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
Is gas still the reason energy bills are so high?
Despite rising non-commodity costs on energy bills, high gas prices remain the primary reason for expensive energy for most British households, making the switch to homegrown energy a top priority
www.nesta.org.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
We've put out loads of work on the affordability of energy and heating over the last couple of months, so thought I'd do a quick recap in case anyone is looking for xmas reading...
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
I agree with this piece by Luke (Don’t pit YIMBYs against NIMBYs), but I think there is a trade off being ducked here.
If you want new housing to integrate with nature and come with GPs and schools, you either need to make developers pay more, or you need more public investment…
If you want new housing to integrate with nature and come with GPs and schools, you either need to make developers pay more, or you need more public investment…
December 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I agree with this piece by Luke (Don’t pit YIMBYs against NIMBYs), but I think there is a trade off being ducked here.
If you want new housing to integrate with nature and come with GPs and schools, you either need to make developers pay more, or you need more public investment…
If you want new housing to integrate with nature and come with GPs and schools, you either need to make developers pay more, or you need more public investment…
We've put out loads of work on the affordability of energy and heating over the last couple of months, so thought I'd do a quick recap in case anyone is looking for xmas reading...
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
Is gas still the reason energy bills are so high?
Despite rising non-commodity costs on energy bills, high gas prices remain the primary reason for expensive energy for most British households, making the switch to homegrown energy a top priority
www.nesta.org.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
We've put out loads of work on the affordability of energy and heating over the last couple of months, so thought I'd do a quick recap in case anyone is looking for xmas reading...
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
First, a look at the big picture on energy bills. Is gas still the reason energy is expensive? By me
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
My main thought on the white-men-in-the-employment-market paper is that given what happens to women's careers post kids, the promotion potential for the ones who do get hired is probably better than it was pre-diversification, so forgive me if my sympathy is limited
December 19, 2025 at 12:09 AM
My main thought on the white-men-in-the-employment-market paper is that given what happens to women's careers post kids, the promotion potential for the ones who do get hired is probably better than it was pre-diversification, so forgive me if my sympathy is limited
Remember, it’s the hope that gets you…
(Especially after midnight on a school night)
(Especially after midnight on a school night)
December 19, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Remember, it’s the hope that gets you…
(Especially after midnight on a school night)
(Especially after midnight on a school night)
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
A very balanced view with some extremely useful perspectives whether you think it’s a bubble or not.
Nice piece by my colleague Laurie Smith on what useful things might be left behind if the AI bubble bursts. Probably not railways, but not tulips either…
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
What is left if the AI bubble bursts?
What to think about now for after the AI frenzy
www.nesta.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A very balanced view with some extremely useful perspectives whether you think it’s a bubble or not.
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Slow politics fast. New substack.
How American ideologies, tech and "might is right" driven by an "alcoholic" White House has bent geo-politics out of shape. And why the UK and EU must go slow - at pace in 2026.
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/slow-polit...
How American ideologies, tech and "might is right" driven by an "alcoholic" White House has bent geo-politics out of shape. And why the UK and EU must go slow - at pace in 2026.
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/slow-polit...
Slow politics fast
Driven by an "alcoholic" White House, UK and EU politics has been bent out of shape by American ideology, technology, and dystopian global vision. 2026 needs to be a year of go-slow - at pace.
anthonypainter.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Slow politics fast. New substack.
How American ideologies, tech and "might is right" driven by an "alcoholic" White House has bent geo-politics out of shape. And why the UK and EU must go slow - at pace in 2026.
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/slow-polit...
How American ideologies, tech and "might is right" driven by an "alcoholic" White House has bent geo-politics out of shape. And why the UK and EU must go slow - at pace in 2026.
anthonypainter.substack.com/p/slow-polit...
Nice piece by my colleague Laurie Smith on what useful things might be left behind if the AI bubble bursts. Probably not railways, but not tulips either…
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
What is left if the AI bubble bursts?
What to think about now for after the AI frenzy
www.nesta.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Nice piece by my colleague Laurie Smith on what useful things might be left behind if the AI bubble bursts. Probably not railways, but not tulips either…
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-is...
Re: Leeds tram…
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
December 18, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Re: Leeds tram…
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.