In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike explore the implications of the English Devolution Bill for local economic development across the UK

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike  talk Local Growth Plans and the new requirement on Combined Authorities and devolution deal areas in England to produce them. How should local leadership teams approach writing them? Tune in and find out more!

David and Mike discuss the March 2024 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publication of ‘Households below average income’ (HBAI) statistics (often referred to as ‘poverty statistics’) and what they tell us about the state of poverty and inequality in the UK today.

David and Mike unpack what is currently known about the Labour Party’s planned approach to local economic development and placemaking should it form the next UK Government.  

In March 2024, the Labour Party published Power and Partnership: Labour’s Plan to Power up Britain, and Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, gave the MAIS lecture.

David and Mike dissect the findings and recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee's report into the UK Government's three showcase 'Levelling Up' funds.

David and Mike are joined by leading spatial economist Professor Philip McCann for a wide-ranging discussion on the UK's growing regional economic inequalities. Philip draws on his decades of cutting-edge research and experience from around the world to analyse what's gone wrong - and how we can put it right. Tune in to hear his insights on regional divergence, devolution and the data gaps that, until now, have obscured solutions. It's an illuminating look at the puzzles and priorities of place from one of the foremost experts in the field. Don't miss this in depth episode of LED Confidential!

David and Mike discuss how far the UK Government’s £4.7bn announcement of transport investment for the North and Midlands mitigates cancellation of HS2 beyond Birmingham.

On February 13th, the UK Government announced a further elaboration of their 2023 Long-Term Plan for Housing. “Every council in England will be told that they will need to prioritise brownfield developments and instructed to be less bureaucratic and more flexible in applying policies that halt housebuilding on brownfield land. “ David and Mike discuss what all this means for LEDC listeners, their cities, towns and regions.  

With think tank New Local publishing a paper calling for 'Total Place 2.0', David and Mike revisit their recollections of ‘Total Place 1.0' – the place based budgeting pilots of the Blair-Brown government. They consider why it remains a compelling idea, albeit with some very practical challenges.

New Local paper: https://www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/total-place-2-0-video-john-denham/

In this episode David and Mike are joined by Alex Hiniker, Director of the Sustainability Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University and facilitator of the first ever Voluntary Local Review (VLR) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), completed for New York City. Learn more about how the SDGs and the mechanism of the VLR can be an important and relevant driver for LED and placemaking.

LEDC's final Espresso Shot for February...David and Mike pitch their Budget for local economic development

LEDC's second Espresso Shot for February 2024...With the publication of Cities Outlook 2024 by the Centre for Cities, David and Mike ask: do think tank reports contribute to ‘analysis paralysis’, or can they be made operationally relevant?

David and Mike discuss the 'Medellin Miracle' with Professor Ana Ortega of the city's EAFIT University. How much of this Colombian regional capital's ‘City of Eternal Spring’ strapline is PR, and how much is rooted in a model of inclusive innovation from which we all can learn?

In their first Espresso Shot episode of February 24, Mike and David explore the under-appreciated role of the Public Works Loan Board in the recent financial difficulties of English councils

David, Mike, and Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett discuss the 'Salford Way' in this special episode. They talk inclusive economic growth, the mayoral model, and collaboration across Greater Manchester. Discover how Salford embraces its heritage as a cultural and industrial pioneer.

What were your key takeaways from 2023 for local economic development and placemaking? And what are you expecting for the coming months? Join David and Mike as they review their highlights and lowlights of 2023 and look ahead to what is sure to be another challenging year.

Have you ever wondered what we can learn about grappling with local economic development and placemaking from a 4,000 person island nestled in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean? Prepare to be astounded and inspired as David and Mike find out in conversation with Susan O’Bey, Chief Secretary of St Helena, this remote, genuinely unique British Overseas Territory. From the island’s innovative approaches to sustainability, to how they deal with the UK Government 8000 kilometres away, you will be surprised at both our shared agendas with St Helena and also how explicitly identifying and articulating our distinctive values, assets and capabilities are critical to successful, effective LED and placemaking.

For their roundup of November 2023, David and Mike dissect announcements from the Autumn Statement on devolution and check in with UK policy on economic zones. They explore the pros and cons of the latest devolution deals, the emerging shape of Single Financial Settlements for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, and the LED lessons from supporting a cyber cluster at Cheltenham's Golden Valley Development.

Tom Forth is Head of Data at Open Innovations, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of The Data City. He is a high-profile writer on questions relating to UK industrial strategy, devolution, and regional inequalities in economic development. In this episode, David and Mike explore with Tom how innovations in the use of data science in economic development can help local leaders revitalise their economies. They discuss how these tools help us to understand the economic performance of Northern England's cities relative to their overseas peers.

Tom reflects on how improving our understanding of places is only half the battle: that without the ability or willingness to decentralise powers and funding to local government, the UK risks being wise to its economic problems but slow to fix them.

Join hosts David and Mike as they explore the pivotal role of business networks, like Chambers of Commerce, in shaping local economies with Staffordshire Chambers CEO Sara Williams OBE.

In this roundup of sector developments from October 2023, David and Mike dissect the UK's new Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, the National Infrastructure Commission's latest assessment of Britain's infrastructure needs, and 4-Day work week trials in local government.

In this roundup of sector developments from September 2023, David and Mike explore why the future of high speed rail, the precarious state local government finance, and mayors taking control of bus services in England are so important to the economic growth of places across the UK. What does Birmingham City Council effectively declaring bankruptcy mean for how it conducts placemaking? Why was HS2 always about so much more than conveying people in greater modernity and comfort between cities with existing rail connections? And how can setting bus routes and timetables through franchising services open up new sites for development? Tune in to find out!

Curious about what comes after Local Enterprise Partnerships in England? Join David and Mike for an exclusive chat with Chris Starkie, former CEO of New Anglia LEP, as they dissect the transition from LEPs to successor arrangements in local economic development. What challenges and opportunities face those being handed the baton?

With the results of the UK General Election now in, David and Mike discuss the significant implications for local economic development and placemaking of the change in government. They look ahead to Labour’s first set-piece policy event as the governing party: the King's Speech. What can the sector expect for planning reform, devolution, and industrial strategy? Tune in to find out!

In this episode, David and Mike explore what economic developers can learn from the Spanish women's national football team, and their success at the World Cup despite high-profile failures of management. They dive into the summer blockbuster film Oppenheimer, and how the Manhattan Project can inform mission-led policy in the age of climate change.  Is it possible to recreate the dynamism outside of an immediate national crisis, like a war or pandemic? And as they review the latest crop of UK government funding competitions, don't miss their take on the 'chess tables in parks' saga!

Curious about the future of devolution in England? Join David and Mike on LED Confidential as they sit down with Professor John Tomaney from University College London. Together they unravel devolution's impact on communities and economic growth. Hear why the current approach is failing to engage local people and the options for a more inclusive, effective decentralisation of power. Can reform of England's governance take a turn for the better? Tune in to find out!

Can inner-city densification and a new urban quarter for Cambridge get England out of its house building funk? Are large public subsidies for battery plants, like the proposed Tata Gigafactory factory in Somerset, the right way to modernise local economies? And what are the barriers to the tech revolution in public service delivery proposed by the Tony Blair Institute? Join David and Mike as they mull over another month in local economic development...

Bonus briefing available on the LEDC website!

Denser English cities won't happen without house building on the Greenbelt - as Cambridge shows (ledconfidential.co.uk)

Join David, Mike, and Oxford Professor Danny Dorling as they discuss the roots of the UK economic crisis, and the geography of poverty and inequality. They dissect the long-term trends that shaped contemporary Britain's income and wealth disparities, and how local economic development can provide transformative solutions.

David and Mike explore the issues faced by local economic development teams in the UK as they navigate some of the fiercest price pressures in recent UK inflation rate history, a glacial UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the impact of relocation on civil service jobs and behaviours. Tune in now for expert insights and actionable solutions!

Bonus briefings now available on the LEDC website!

How can places respond to some of the strongest price pressures in recent UK inflation rate history? (ledconfidential.co.uk)

Tackling the massive underspend in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (ledconfidential.co.uk)

The impact of the Places for Growth programme on UK civil service jobs and civil service behaviours (ledconfidential.co.uk)

Discover the career pathways to becoming a Director or CEO in local economic development. David and Mike are joined by the leading sector recruitment expert and MD of Penna, Julie Towers. Julie shares her insights on the latest trends, and the personal qualities and skills needed to succeed in this evolving field.

Green Belt, migration, and apprenticeships. Each offer huge opportunities for local innovation, more effective delivery, and better policy outcomes with changes in relative national, and sub-national powers and resources. Find out what David and Mike think in this episode of LED Confidential.

Discover the untapped potential of universities in local economic development. Dr Louise Kempton of CURDS joins Mike and David as they discuss the complexities, challenges, and possibilities for universities to drive placemaking and transform communities.

In this episode, Mike and David review the highlights of April 2023, including the Dominic Raab bullying saga, the imminent submission of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), and the inception of new unitary councils in England. They delve into the complex relationships between elected politicians and senior officials, the importance of employer leadership and voice in skills planning, and the balancing act between seamless transition and achieving a clean break in local government reorganisation.

David, Mike, and guest Professor Pete Tyler discuss the UK’s forthcoming Investment Zones and the history of area-based initiatives, from the pioneering Enterprise Zones of the 1980s, through Freeports, and the more recent Opportunity Zones of the US. If you’re an economic developer who wants to design successful zones, don’t miss this episode!

With increasing reports of universities in crisis, what does the future hold for these important local and regional anchor institutions? How can they work with higher education 'cold spots' in cities and towns to extend provision, and what does the sector want from the next UK government? David and Mike, discuss with guest Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities.

Join David and Mike as they review what March 2023 meant for local economic development in Britain. They analyse the Spring Budget statement from the UK Government, the new trailblazer devolution deals for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, and why the country struggles with slow delivery of major infrastructure projects.

In a world of pandemics and economic crises, how can local leaders navigate their places to a brighter future? Join David and Mike as they tap the insights of Jim Savege, Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council in the globally-renowned energy hub of Scotland’s north east. From building social capital, to progressing long-term ambitions with tactical dexterity, this episode is a fascinating journey into the potential of local communities experiencing rapid change and inspiring them to be the best they can be.

Join David and Mike as they review what February 2023 had in store for local economic development. They take on three of the issues to look out for in the impending March Budget statement from the UK Government: mission-based economic renewal, local government finance, and the future of area-based approaches to environmentally-sustainable transport.

Join David and Mike as they explore the power of sporting and cultural events to transform places. Discover what it takes to build a positive legacy that outlasts the event itself.  They are joined by guest Michael Owens, co-author of 'Play the Game' - the insiders' account of how the London 2012 Olympics transformed the Lower Lea Valley.  The stakes are high, the action is intense and the journey is full of twists and turns.  This is LED Confidential - the podcast that delves into the untold stories behind local economic development and placemaking.  

Will the controversial reveal of Levelling Up Fund Round 2 awards prove to be the tipping point in the UK government’s approach to funding LED? What does the draft devolution deal for North East England and the emerging 'trailblazers' for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands mean for those areas, and the rest of the country? And does the Convention of The North signal a new phase in pan-regional working? Join David and Mike for a thought-provoking review of the month that just was in UK local economic development and placemaking.

David and Mike review the UK's tumultuous year in placemaking, from the launch of the Levelling Up White Paper to the introduction of the AI bot, ChatGPT. Join them on a journey through political mayhem, inflation, and tortured funding models; to devolution, and the promise of Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Is local economic development in the UK now a hostage to the fortunes of a UK government in turmoil? Can devolution save us from bad policies and dysfunction at the centre? And what are the prospects for existing and potentially new devolution arrangements under the Truss government? Join David, Mike and guest Andy Pike of Newcastle University as they discuss: can decentralising power address UK-level failures in policy and governance?

What should be the big ticket items in Liz Truss's local economic development and 'Levelling Up' in-trays? What roles can long-term strategies play for places battling the latest economic crises? And are there any reasons to be optimistic for the future of LED in the UK following the formation of its new government? Join David, Mike and guest Julia Goldsworthy as they discuss: where now for economic development in the age of Truss?

Do government funding programmes raise the ambition of places or divert them from the changes they really need? Do they raise standards or impose a place-blind uniformity on local economic development? Might reform of public funding unleash potential in places or do local leaders always make the system work for their priorities? David and Mike discuss with Sandra Rothwell, Managing Director of LED consultancy ROTHWELL and formerly CEO of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. 

What does great political leadership look like in local economic development? How can places cope if it's poor or inconsistent? Do national political priorities always trump local ones? David and Mike discuss with Jonathan Carr-West, CEO of Britain's Local Government Information Unit.

What does the UK General Election mean for the future of economic development and placemaking in the country? As the sector contemplates a major change in national policy direction, David and Mike set out the key questions for those seeking office.

Is there a universal formula for success as an economic development organisation? Is big always beautiful? Or is small and nimble the way to go when setting one up? Do they work best when forced to compete or encouraged to work together? David and Mike discuss with guest Tom Stannard, CEO of Salford City Council, UK. 

What makes a city, town or village distinctive? What kind of stories do places need to tell about themselves to achieve their goals? And what role should data play in forming them? David, Mike and guest Bec Riley of City-REDI at the University of Birmingham (UK) discuss what makes a place in the minds of investors, central government, local leaders, residents and employers.

Podcast about local economic development and placemaking.  Co-hosted by Mike Spicer of PolicyDepartment and David Marlow of Third Life Economics. Mike, David and guests address the divisive, often unspoken issues facing economic development professionals in 2020s Britain.

Why are so many high streets across Britain struggling to thrive as economic centres? How can how can public policy and local leadership transform these once proud places into engines of future prosperity? David and Mike explore this political hot potato with leading urban regeneration expert John Houghton.