LED Confidential

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike consider the absence of hard commitments to fiscal devolution in the UK Government's Devolution White Paper. Was the government right to exclude this? How long can local revenue raising remain off the table for England, with new tourist levies in the Pipeline for Scotland and Wales?  What options are available for those seeking to champion this agen...

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the parameters of the upcoming local government reorganisation set out by the UK Government in its Devolution White Paper.  They ask: does a target size for English Unitary Authorities of 500k+ make any sense in economic development or placemaking terms? And how can local economic development and placemaking professionals contribute positively t...

Mike and David take to the LEDC crystal ball again as a new year beckons. What will be the key challenges and opportunities at the forefront of UK local economic development and placemaking in 2025? Could it be a year of bold progress for devolution? Will new strategic plans stick, and even if they do, how far can planning reform on its own fix broken housing markets? How far will global turmoil d...

David and Mike are joined by Richard Stubbs, CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. They explore how health and economic agendas are co-dependent in creating healthy and prosperous local communities.

Mike and David give the local economic development and placemaking perspective on the UK Government's Get Britain Working White Paper ( GBWWP). What is its major significance for local and regional leadership teams? What does it mean for those working on England's Local Growth Plans?

Join David and Mike as they dive into England's local authority financial crisis with leading expert Jack Shaw. Hear about the new insights from recent research and the glimmers of hope for reform and recovery. Tune in for a must-listen discussion on the future of local governance and financial resilience. Read Jack's recent paper with Professor Andy Pike (also a former LEDC guest): ‘ The geograph...

David and Mike review proposals to extend MCA powers and responsibilities, as set out in the Public Services Reform and Devolution report by Sam Freedman and Labour Together.

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the Green Paper consultation for the UK's new Industrial Strategy. What is it proposing, and how does this relate to what has gone before? How should local leaders respond?

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike dissect the 2024 Autumn Budget Statement. Find out what it all means for economic development, devolution, and placemaking in the UK.

Can ‘Economics 101’ and radical incrementalism reshape local economic development? David and Mike explore this and more with Professor Henry Overman. Tune in for a deep dive into practical economic strategies and their impact on our cities and communities.

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the work of the newly-formed New Towns Taskforce. Can it improve UK housing outcomes? And how should local leadership teams work with it?

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss South Yorkshire's success in attracting high value investments in SMR manufacturing for the nuclear industry and what other regions can learn from it

In this Espresso Shot episode for September '24 David and Mike dissect the UK Government's early decisions on local deals and new Combined Authorities. What do these say about its approach to devolution? Tune in and learn more!

David and Mike discuss spatial strategic planning and its imminent return to the centre stage of local economic development in England. They are joined by Catriona Riddell, one of the UK’s leading experts on the topic.

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the system and policy changes coming down the track for infrastructure delivery in the UK and what they mean for local economic development

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 '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?

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!

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.

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.

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.

In the last of the Espresso Shots for May 2024, David and Mike examine the concerning rise in economic inactivity rates across the UK and what this means for local economies and communities. How can they respond? Tune in to find out!

For their May 2024 Espresso Shot LEDC episode, David and Mike explore the value local leadership teams can gain from refreshing their strategic approaches ahead of the next UK General Election.

David and Mike explore what the May 2024 local election results mean for economic development and devolution of governance in the UK