Essential Economic Development
A Foundation Course for Local and Regional Economic Development
17 lessons, 2.5 hours. Learn the fundamentals of local and regional economic development for free.
Access the course via our community learning site. Or subscribe via email to get a daily lesson emailed directly to you.
Access via our community learning site:
Access the course via our community learning site here. The 17 lessons are structured as follows:
1. Rationale for Local and Regional Economic Development
2. Overview of themes and functions
3. Understanding economics and economic trends
4. Megatrends
5. Theory of Economic Development
6. Policy
7. Strategy
8. Intelligence & insight
9. Industrial development & clusters
10. Enterprise & entrepreneurship
11. Inward investment / FDI
12. Labour markets
13. Education & skills
14. Economic Participation, Employability and Unemployment
15. Poverty & inequality
16. Place & infrastructure
17. Low carbon, climate change & sustainability
Register here to get free access to the Foundation course’s 17 lessons
Email course: Register below for your 17-Daily lessons by email
Local Economies (UK): Wales becomes UK launchpad for next generation autonomous technology
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Gary Mortimer Date published: 2026-02-20 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Welsh communities will benefit from high-skilled roles as a landmark £50 million Defence Growth Deal boosts autonomous technology...
Supercool Ltd: The full-speed economy: Does running a hotter economy benefit workers?
Source: Supercool Ltd Author: Abi Hynes Date published: 2026-02-20 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Managing the macroeconomy to achieve strong growth and low inflation is a careful balancing act. Overly restrictive macroeconomic policy –...
What do 100+ Labour Market Research and Policy Reports Tell Us About AI and Occupational Change?
The Impact of AI on Occupations, Roles and Skills I've read 140 UK labour market research and policy documents over the past four months. Here's a precis of what they are saying about AI and occupational change. The Scale and Pace of Change Across all the documents...
Local Economies (UK): 13,000 apprenticeship opportunities created by plan to transform school buildings
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Vicky Maggiani Date published: 2026-02-19 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive initiative to equip the next generation of construction workers with essential...
Mayor’s press releases: Mayor publishes final draft Budget with record-breaking £1.26bn investment from City Hall in policing and crime prevention
Source: Mayor's press releases Author: 2026-02-19T09:34:51+0000 Date published: 2026-02-19 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Budget sets out how the Mayor will fund his plans to continue building a fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous...
Combined Authorities (England): Major overhaul of how West Midlands projects are funded will deliver ‘greatest benefits for communities’
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Gurdip Thandi Date published: 2026-02-18 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board discussed the Rosewell Review, set up to look at how best...
Local Economies (UK): Central government holding back growth by blocking regional transport development, finds IPPR
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Rosie Okumbe Date published: 2026-02-18 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Treasury processes are blocking the development of new transport projects, says think tank“Empowering mayors will accelerate our...
Supercool Ltd: Transport and growth: Reforming transport investment for place-based growth
Source: Supercool Ltd Author: Richard Maclean Date published: 2026-02-18 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Treasury processes, fiscal rules and appraisal frameworks – designed to control risk and manage spending – have too often become...
SmartCitiesWorld News: Where US agencies are finding measurable value from AI
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2026-02-18 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] At a glance Who: Euna Solutions. What: Euna has published its State of AI in the Public Sector report. Why: To...