# The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook

> The first comprehensive handbook for local and regional economic development professionals


## Posts

- [𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%a6%f0%9d%98%84%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b1%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bb-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5%f0%9d%97%b2/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻’𝘀 approach to local and regional economic development (LRED) provides vital insights into balancing structural regional convergence with ambitious environmental transformations. Highlights of case studies in the handbook include: 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘯 (Chapter 10: Enterprise and Entrepreneurship) is a jointly owned public-private partnership that assists domestic companies with international expansion while simultaneously attracting foreign direct investment. 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢 (Chapter 12: Innovation) is the national innovation agency that has shifted from simple funding allocation toward managing systemic transitions by […]
- [Devolution needs ten years to prove itself](https://lredhandbook.com/devolution-needs-ten-years-to-prove-itself/): 🎥 New video: why does economic development have to keep justifying itself? David Marlow and Mike Spicer always close LED Confidential by asking for a glass half full position. Here is mine.For the first time in about 30 years, we have democratically accountable organisations at the local level with responsibility for the economy, inclusion and sustainability. The institutions are right. The enabling legislation is really good. That is something genuinely positive to build on. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. The UK government operates on a very short political cycle and has a long record of creating local and regional […]
- [Paperback edition out and now listen to me discuss the Handbook on ED podcasts](https://lredhandbook.com/paperback-edition-out-and-now-listen-to-me-discuss-the-handbook-on-ed-podcasts/): Paperback Edition of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook Out Now! I’ve released the paperback edition of the Handbook – now available on Amazon (£39.99 / €49.99 / $54.99). A few readers reviews: “An engaging and informative read, with a good selection of case studies for bringing theory to life. Recommended for practitioners across different experience levels.” “It’s our economic development bible.”​ “If you work in economic development, this will become your go-to resource. I love the practical focus, the case studies and the relentless focus on making lives and communities better.” “This handbook bridges the gap between theory […]
- [𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%9a%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%98%86-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆’𝘀 approach to local and regional economic development (LRED) provides vital insights into balancing structural regional convergence with ambitious environmental transformations. Highlights of case studies in the handbook include: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭/𝘓𝘢̈𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 (𝘎𝘙𝘞) is a joint federal and state task that pools resources to modernise infrastructure and private business investments in structurally weak areas, particularly within eastern Germany post-reunification. It is a prime example of a cooperative, multi-level […]
- [𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%99%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%b2-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5%f0%9d%97%b2/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. The Handbook highlights France as a leader in managed industrial transitions, innovation-led development, and social policies. Case study highlights include: 𝗟𝘆𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 prioritises ecological transition, social cohesion, and green technology positioning to lead Europe toward sustainable economies. It deliberately differentiates the city through liveable, sustainable, and innovative urbanism rather than attempting to compete directly on raw scale with larger capital cities. Lyon is a great example of how distinct local economic rationales and strategies […]
- [𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗽](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%a6%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%98%86%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b4-%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%81%f0%9d%97%b5%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b4-%f0%9d%97%b1/): I joined David Marlow and Mike Spicer on the LED Confidential podcast recently, and we went straight at the question that opened the episode: why do so many places struggle to close the gap between what they set out to do and what actually happens on the ground? My answer is not that places lack ambition. I am all for ambitious places and ambitious statements. Where we fall down is articulating how we will deliver those ambitions, and then designing the interventions, mechanisms and services to invest in change. We have all listened to mayoral speeches and read the growth […]
- [𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%99%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b9%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. The Handbook highlights Finland as a leader in managed industrial transitions, innovation-led development, and social policies. Case study highlights include: 𝘌𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟦) 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗮 (𝗛𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆): dual strategy that Influenced the “supply side” by reskilling tech talent and the “demand side” by funding startup incubators like Aalto University’s Startup Sauna. 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟣𝟢) 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁: provides unemployed individuals with a living allowance during the vulnerable early months of launching a […]
- [We've Been Looking at Economic Development the Wrong Way](https://lredhandbook.com/weve-been-looking-at-economic-development-the-wrong-way/): Here is one uncomfortable possibility that doesn’t get discussed enough: we may be solving the wrong problems because we’re working from the wrong assumptions. Specifically, we’ve absorbed a set of ideas about what economic development looks like in a “developed” nation – assumptions about mature markets, functioning institutions, and broadly capable populations – that simply don’t hold in many parts of the UK. And in doing so, we’ve filtered out a body of knowledge and practice that could genuinely help us. The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook addresses this head-on. One of its most thought-provoking contributions is the argument […]
- [Stay curious: how asking the right questions unlocks the best economic development solutions](https://lredhandbook.com/stay-curious-how-asking-the-right-questions-unlocks-the-best-economic-development-solutions/): What Actually Drives You Local Economy? The Questions Every Economic Development Practitioner Should Be Asking There’s a moment most of us in economic development will recognise. You’re sitting in a meeting — perhaps a combined authority board, a regeneration partnership, or a planning committee — and someone asks a deceptively simple question: Why isn’t our economy performing better? The room fills with answers. Skills gaps. Poor transport links. Not enough investment. Too many low-wage jobs. Not enough high-value businesses. The wrong kind of businesses. The usual suspects are rounded up, blamed, and a new initiative is proposed. Another workstream. Another […]
- [Glenn discusses the handbook with Dane Carlson on the EconDevShow Podcast](https://lredhandbook.com/glenn-discusses-the-handbook-with-dane-carlson-on-the-econdevshow-podcast/): It was an absolute pleasure to be a guest on Dane Carlson’s EconDevShow Podcast last week! In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Dane Carlson talks with Dr. Glenn Athey, author of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, about what economic developers actually need to know to move from strategy to delivery. Glenn shares how growing up in North East England during de-industrialization shaped his interest in regional economic development, why he wrote the book he wishes he had at the start of his career, and how practitioners can use international case studies without simply copying someone else’s […]
- [Why Local and Regional Economic Development Still Needs to Justify Itself — And What to Do About It](https://lredhandbook.com/why-local-and-regional-economic-development-still-needs-to-justify-itself-and-what-to-do-about-it/): There’s a particular kind of frustration familiar to anyone who has spent time in local or regional economic development. You’ve spent weeks pulling together the evidence base. You’ve mapped the labour market gaps, modelled the productivity deficit, built the investment case. You’ve consulted the partners, aligned the strategies, and found the match funding. And then you sit in a committee room and find yourself explaining, from first principles, why economic development matters at all. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And if you think the answer is simply to do better work, the evidence suggests the real challenge runs […]
- [𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%97%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%ba%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b8-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. The Handbook references Denmark as a global leader in high-performance innovation ecosystems, professionalised cluster management, and flexible labour markets. These case studies focus on strategic collaboration, the “flexicurity” model, and large-scale green transitions. Highlights of specific policies or initiatives discussed include: 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 (Chapter 9: Industrial Development and Clusters): Denmark designates and publicly funds approximately 14 national clusters (e.g., Medicon Valley, Odense Robotics) overseen by Cluster Excellence Denmark. The Handbook uses […]
- [Lessons for Further Education](https://lredhandbook.com/lessons-for-further-education/): In this article for FE News I reflect on some of the key messages and conclusions for the Further Education Sector from The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook. Rebuilding The Skills Ecosystem: Colleges That Collaborate Are Making The Biggest Gains.
- [What if your new economic development team member didn't have to learn things the hard way?](https://lredhandbook.com/what-if-your-new-economic-development-team-member-didnt-have-to-learn-things-the-hard-way/): What if your team shared a common understanding of what economic development is, how it works, and what good practice looks like — from day one? That’s not an unrealistic ambition. It just requires investment in knowledge. Thirty years of practice, research, and hard-won experience. Seventeen chapters. Every major aspect of local and regional economic development — from strategy and enterprise to labour markets, place-making, climate, and delivery. One book. Readable in weeks. Useful for a career. “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 ‘𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦’ 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘎𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘯’𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 […]
- [Economic Developers Need a Shared Foundation](https://lredhandbook.com/economic-developers-need-a-shared-foundation/): 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽. I brought in a professor who ran a vocational course on local economic development, and commissioned a bespoke three-day programme for the team. It worked. Not because it was expensive or elaborate — but because it gave people a shared foundation. A common language. A framework for thinking about what they were there to do and why. That experience stayed with me. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. Because not every team has the budget […]
- [𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%96%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b1%f0%9d%97%ae-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b1-%f0%9d%97%a5%f0%9d%97%b2/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. The Handbook highlights Canada as a prime example of strategic regional economic development through its federally-backed agency model and world-leading technology ecosystems. The case studies focus on bridging the gap between research and commercial success while addressing regional disparities. Highlights of specific policies or initiatives discussed include: 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘙𝘋𝘈𝘴) (Chapter 5: Policy) The book details Canada’s federal framework consisting of six RDAs, such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), which are statutorily mandated […]
- [I've watched capable, talented new starters struggle in economic development teams](https://lredhandbook.com/ive-watched-capable-talented-new-starters-struggle-in-economic-development-teams/): Not because they weren’t smart. Not because they didn’t work hard. But because nobody had ever explained to them what economic development actually is. What is the mission? What is the function? What are the dilemmas you’ll face when public purpose and private interest pull in different directions? How do you make choices when everything feels urgent and the resources are never enough? This is particularly true of people coming in from a business background. The private sector logic they’ve built their careers on doesn’t always translate. The public sector context, the policy environment, the accountability structures — these take […]
- [𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮: 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔-𝗭](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%94%f0%9d%98%82%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%98%81%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%ae-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b0%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%b9-%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bb/): The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook, launched on 27 April, contains a wealth of practical case studies and examples that span the globe. The Handbook highlights Australia as a nation utilizing structured, collaborative frameworks to bridge the gap between federal policy and local action. These case studies focus on regional coordination, addressing the “digital divide” for older populations, and creating inclusive pathways for high-growth sectors. Highlights of specific policies or initiatives discussed include: 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 (𝘙𝘋𝘈) 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 (Chapter 5: Policy) This program consists of 52 committees of local leaders who develop regional plans to […]
- [𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%a7%f0%9d%97%b5%f0%9d%97%b2-%f0%9d%98%81%f0%9d%97%b5%f0%9d%97%b6%f0%9d%97%bb%f0%9d%97%b4-%f0%9d%98%81%f0%9d%97%b5%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%98%81-%f0%9d%98%81%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%bc%f0%9d%97%b8/): I sat in meetings early in my career where decisions were being made and I didn’t know the local backstory. Who had tried what before? Why certain approaches had been abandoned? What are the political sensitivities? What the community actually needed versus what looked good on paper? You can’t get that from a textbook. You learn it by asking, listening, and staying humble. Clients and communities aren’t interested in lessons handed down from afar by someone who hasn’t taken the time to understand their place. And they’re right not to be. The best economic developers I’ve worked with over thirty […]
- [𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆](https://lredhandbook.com/%f0%9d%97%98%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b9%f0%9d%98%86-%f0%9d%97%96%f0%9d%97%ae%f0%9d%97%bf%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%97%bf-%f0%9d%97%9f%f0%9d%97%b2%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%98%80%f0%9d%97%bc/): 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝟣𝟫𝟫𝟢𝘴 I thought I was reasonably well prepared. I had read the research, understood the theories, sat in plenty of meetings with practitioners. What I wasn’t prepared for was the reality of how economic development actually works. The people I was working with weren’t interested in debate or deliberation. They weren’t there to discuss frameworks. They were laser focused on delivery — on helping real people in deprived communities, with limited time and even more limited resources. Academic theory felt very far away in those rooms. […]
- [The 10 big takeaways from The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook](https://lredhandbook.com/the-10-big-takeaways-from-the-local-and-regional-economic-development-handbook/): Folks – it’s been a fantastic week promoting 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 and many thanks to everyone who’s engaged and bought the book already. I’d like to conclude this week with a focus on the very last page of the book – it summarises the 10 key lessons of Local and Regional Economic Development: 𝟭. 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲-𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱: Effective intervention responds to unique local assets and conditions; what works in Manchester may fail in Middlesbrough. 𝟮. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: Skills gaps, productivity, poverty, and climate transition are deeply interlinked; siloed interventions that ignore these connections […]
- [Economic Development Functions Explained](https://lredhandbook.com/economic-development-functions-explained/): 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 – 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook (www.lredhandbook.com ) is structured and written as an economic developer would think about their world, their professional discipline and how they work. Here’s what the economic development job actually covers: → Enterprise & entrepreneurship — helping local businesses start, scale, and innovate → Inward investment — attracting external firms AND embedding them so they stay → Skills & employment — aligning workforce capabilities with what the economy actually needs → Innovation ecosystems — turning R&D into products, services, and jobs → […]
- [Question About the Handbook? Ask the AI assistant, Eddie](https://lredhandbook.com/question-about-the-handbook-ask-the-ai-assistant-eddie/): The handbook’s website has an AI assistant, Eddie, which can be accessed by clicking on “Talk to AI” in the lower right hand side of the screen. Eddie is a RAG-based AI agent with the entire book’s contents sitting behind enquiries and reasoning. F𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 “𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴” The response is:- “The handbook covers growth business support as part of a place-based economic development strategy—it’s not a standalone chapter, but woven through the framework on how you diagnose what your local economy needs, prioritise interventions, […]
- [On Sale Today! The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook](https://lredhandbook.com/on-sale-today-the-local-and-regional-economic-development-handbook/): Today’s the day. The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook is now available in hardback via amazon. After two years of writing — and thirty-two years of practice behind it — the book is out! I’ve also recorded a ten-minute video walkthrough that takes you inside the covers, chapter by chapter, with examples of the case studies and content. If you’d rather watch than read, the link is below. There’s a stack of information, testimonials from experts who have read and advanced copy, and details about how to get bonus content and video lessons once you’ve bought the book at […]
- [The Arithmetic of Business Survival](https://lredhandbook.com/the-arithmetic-of-business-survival/): What Every Economic Development Practitioner Needs to Know About Business Finance Enterprise support is one of the most well-intentioned areas of economic development work — and one of the most frequently misdirected. We celebrate entrepreneurship, fund business advice services, build incubators, and launch accelerator programmes. Yet too many of us do this without a firm grasp of the basic financial mechanics that determine whether a business survives at all. That is a serious problem. In my handbook *The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook*, I dedicate a substantial section to what I call the arithmetic of survival — the fundamental […]
- [Economic Development Practitioners Who Understand Business Fundamentals Design More Impactful Support Programmes](https://lredhandbook.com/economic-development-practitioners-who-understand-business-fundamentals-design-more-impactful-support-programmes/): Here’s what a regional economic development expert, ex CEO of Glasgow Development Agency said about The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘈 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭. “ A business can have a passionate founder, an innovative product, and a professional plan — and still be heading for failure because the numbers don’t work. Revenue model, cost structure, gross margin, and cash conversion aren’t accounting technicalities — they’re the difference between […]
- [Glowing reviews: A Must Read Handbook for Local and Regional Economic Development](https://lredhandbook.com/3429-2/): I’ve put out some drafts of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook to a few colleagues and collaborators for their response, insights and hopefully some words of recommendation… WHAT PROFESSIONALS AND EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK: “The breadth and depth of the evidence is impressive, written by someone who has worked extensively in local economic development for many years and is presented in a clear and accessible way. It should be essential reading for all practitioners, policy makers and leaders who want to bring about real change in the places they serve.” PROFESSOR PETER TYLER, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE […]
- [EDW Founder Membership Open Until 20 April 2026](https://economicdevelopment.world/edw-founder-membership-open-until-20-april-2026/): After 32 years working in economic development, I’ve noticed something. There’s no real home for people doing this work in the UK. No professional community where practitioners can share what’s actually working, get honest answers to difficult questions, or access decent CPD without sitting through another generic leadership course. That’s why I built Economic Development […] The post EDW Founder Membership Open Until 20 April 2026 first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [What the Experts Are Saying About The Local And Regional Economic Development Handbook](https://economicdevelopment.world/what-the-experts-are-saying-about-the-local-and-regional-economic-development-handbook/): 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥! And the first review has landed from a world-renowned professor of innovation: “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆. 𝗔 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, […] The post What the Experts Are Saying About The Local And Regional Economic Development Handbook first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [What The Experts Are Saying About The Local And Regional Economic Development Handbook](https://mylocaleconomy.org/best-practice/what-the-experts-are-saying-about-the-local-and-regional-economic-development-handbook-2/): 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥! And the first review has landed from a world-renowned professor of innovation: “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆. 𝗔 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, […]
- [Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development:  How a Town of 30,000 Competes (and Wins) in Economic Development with Tim Hanigan](https://economicdevelopment.world/econ-dev-show-podcast-economic-development-how-a-town-of-30000-competes-and-wins-in-economic-development-with-tim-hanigan/): Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-23 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at: The post Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development:  How a Town of 30,000 Competes (and Wins) in Economic Development with Tim Hanigan first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Combined Authorities (England):  How the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council is set to boost jobs and regional growth](https://economicdevelopment.world/combined-authorities-england-how-the-midlands-defence-and-security-industry-council-is-set-to-boost-jobs-and-regional-growth/): Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-23 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] As the Midlands continues to strengthen its role in the UK’s defence future, we reflect on the Midlands Defence and Security Blueprint, set out earlier this year to boost high value jobs, accelerate innovation and attract […] The post Combined Authorities (England):  How the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council is set to boost jobs and regional growth first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Regional Economies:  The Iran oil crisis is the worst energy shock ever recorded. World leaders aren’t ready, says IEA chief](https://economicdevelopment.world/regional-economies-the-iran-oil-crisis-is-the-worst-energy-shock-ever-recorded-world-leaders-arent-ready-says-iea-chief/): Source: Regional Economies Author: Jake Angelo Date published: 2026-03-23 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The oil crises of the 1970s prompted a range of policy changes that still exist today. For one, we invented the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane to incentivize workers to carpool. A nationwide 55 mph speed […] The post Regional Economies:  The Iran oil crisis is the worst energy shock ever recorded. World leaders aren’t ready, says IEA chief first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Combined Authorities (England):  The People’s Network: South Yorkshire Takes Back Control of Transport](https://economicdevelopment.world/combined-authorities-england-the-peoples-network-south-yorkshire-takes-back-control-of-transport/): Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Jane Thomas Date published: 2026-03-23 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Like a phoenix rising the people of former “socialist republic of South Yorkshire” now have their own transport network I will put my cards on the table – I am a massive fan of public […] The post Combined Authorities (England):  The People’s Network: South Yorkshire Takes Back Control of Transport first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Local Growth and the United Kingdom:  Oxford-Cambridge corridor to be UK’s “Silicon Valley”](https://economicdevelopment.world/local-growth-and-the-united-kingdom-oxford-cambridge-corridor-to-be-uks-silicon-valley/): Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Chancellor set to double funding for Oxford–Cambridge corridor in move to make it UK’s “Silicon Valley”.  Funding will unlock new homes, labs and transport, as part of plans to deliver good jobs, housing and connectivity.  Proposals for a development corporation for Greater Oxford, […] The post Local Growth and the United Kingdom:  Oxford-Cambridge corridor to be UK’s “Silicon Valley” first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Local Growth and the United Kingdom:  Chancellor’s growth plan sets key principles for UK-EU alignment](https://economicdevelopment.world/local-growth-and-the-united-kingdom-chancellors-growth-plan-sets-key-principles-for-uk-eu-alignment/): Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Reeves sets out the next phase of the government’s growth plan to build a stronger, more secure economy in an uncertain world Government pursues three biggest opportunities for growth: a closer UK‑EU relationship, a step change in AI and unlocking growth in […] The post Local Growth and the United Kingdom:  Chancellor’s growth plan sets key principles for UK-EU alignment first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Regional Economies:  ‘Very damaging’: how the Iran war is hitting energy-intensive industries](https://economicdevelopment.world/regional-economies-very-damaging-how-the-iran-war-is-hitting-energy-intensive-industries/): Source: Regional Economies Author: Alex Daniel and Lisa O’Carroll Date published: 2026-03-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] In its 160-year history, Somers Forge’s furnaces in the Black Country have cast steel columns for the Bank of England, part of the anchor for the Titanic and – more recently – propeller […] The post Regional Economies:  ‘Very damaging’: how the Iran war is hitting energy-intensive industries first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [Combined Authorities (England):  ‘The new deal for young people goes to the heart of Labour’s mission’](https://economicdevelopment.world/combined-authorities-england-the-new-deal-for-young-people-goes-to-the-heart-of-labours-mission/): Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Andrew Pakes MP Date published: 2026-03-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Peterborough helped to build modern Britain through our bricks, engineering and railways. This industrial heritage gave opportunity to young people as well as prosperity to the city. But now, we face a different challenge. […] The post Combined Authorities (England):  ‘The new deal for young people goes to the heart of Labour’s mission’ first appeared on Economic Development World.
- [𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 – 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀](https://mylocaleconomy.org/best-practice/%F0%9D%97%9C%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B1%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%BF%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%B9-%F0%9D%97%B0%F0%9D%97%B9%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%B2/): The evidence is clear: successful industrial clusters generate genuine competitive advantages. Firms in Oxfordshire’s Motorsport Valley are 6x more productive than isolated competitors. Research Triangle Park transformed North Carolina from textile dependence into a £17 billion innovation economy. Denmark’s professionalised clusters consistently outperform regions without them. Yet cluster initiatives can sometimes fail to deliver. Why? […]
- [𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲](https://mylocaleconomy.org/competency/%F0%9D%97%97%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B4-%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%98%81%F0%9D%97%B5%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B4-%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%AF%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%98%82/): Local leaders often say they can’t afford to invest in economic development. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 – 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗸’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹: 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Consider what […]
- [Will the UK’s 𝟴𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 “𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀” be coming back to work?](https://mylocaleconomy.org/labour-market/will-the-uks-%F0%9D%9F%B4%F0%9D%9F%B1%F0%9D%9F%AC%F0%9D%9F%AC%F0%9D%9F%AC%F0%9D%9F%AC-%F0%9D%97%BA%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%98%80%F0%9D%97%B6%F0%9D%97%BB%F0%9D%97%B4-%F0%9D%98%84%F0%9D%97%BC/): Since COVID, 850,000 people in the UK withdrew from the active labour market. This massive rise in economic inactivity has happened at the same time that policy has tightened controls on hiring overseas workers, and the UK’s further and adult education system has been squeezed by budget cuts and inflexibilities (prior to 2026). I did […]
- [𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝘁)](https://mylocaleconomy.org/labour-market/%F0%9D%97%AA%F0%9D%97%B5%F0%9D%98%86-%F0%9D%97%AC%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%97%BF-%F0%9D%97%9F%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%AF%F0%9D%97%BC%F0%9D%98%82%F0%9D%97%BF-%F0%9D%97%A0%F0%9D%97%AE%F0%9D%97%BF/): 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝘁) Does your local economy have plenty of labour demand and desperate employers who can’t get the workforce and skills they need? As well as unemployed residents who “can’t find work?” The problem isn’t lack of jobs. It’s that we fundamentally misunderstand how […]
- [Build your own SMART objectives with our toolkit](https://mylocaleconomy.org/competency/build-your-own-smart-objectives-with-our-toolkit/): “𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆.” “𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵.” “𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.” 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿? In 31 years of economic development work, I’ve learned one hard truth: 𝘷𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦. Sharpen up your objectives 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 – download the workbook by registering here. The single feature that separates successful initiatives […]
- [14 Years of Economic Development Consultancy – What’s Next?](https://mylocaleconomy.org/organisation/14-years-of-economic-development-consultancy-whats-next/): Today marks a significant milestone for me – 14 years since I launched my consultancy business! It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m proud of the impact I’ve been able to make in economic development for cities, regions, and local areas. My career in numbers speaks volumes: Clients seek me out for my: I’ve had […]
- [Create high-performing organisations with a high impact: lessons for the new Combined Authorities in England](https://mylocaleconomy.org/competency/create-high-performing-organisations-with-a-high-impact-lessons-for-the-new-combined-authorities-in-england/): 𝙇𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. CAs were completely new, untested in their local areas, given new funds, powers & responsibilities. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆. Many CAs struggled to establish this on the rapid timescales involved. A challenge, I know, but the […]
- [Is your business and stakeholder engagement too low? tips and advice to address this](https://mylocaleconomy.org/best-practice/is-your-business-and-stakeholder-engagement-too-low-tips-and-advice-to-address-this/): 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 To maximise participation in workshops, interviews, and surveys, pitch relevant questions and repeat online events. Consider purchasing business samples from marketing databases to expand reach. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: ** Tailor questions to different groups.** Piggyback on existing meetings and events… […]

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