Local authorities are ideally placed to influence health and health inequalities but without an evidence-base they cannot maximise these opportunities. The NIHR PHR recognised this and the NIHR PHIRST was set up. PHIRST is made up of six academic teams fully funded, ready and waiting to evaluate initiatives happening in local government across the UK. If your initiative is chosen, one of the PHIRST teams will work with you to co-create an evaluation. They will then, undertake and deliver robust and independent research to aid and inform future decision making.