LED Confidential

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...

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!

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 journe...

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 intens...

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-region...

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-l...

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 econom...

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...

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.

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.