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
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Best Practice Supporting Industries and Clusters
The book I'm launching next month - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 - is packed with practical advice and case studies. Here's a sample of what's in the book regarding industrial clusters...The UK has oscillated between active industrial strategy...
Regional Economies: Europe surges, US stumbles, China cools: EV sales dip in 2026
Source: Regional Economies Author: Michelle Lewis Date published: 2026-02-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The new MG4 EV Urban (left) and 2026 MG4 EV (Source: MG Motor) 1.2 million EVs were sold globally in January – but the market...
Local Economies (UK): Global stadium boom accelerates shift to residency-style tours
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Hanna Ellington Date published: 2026-02-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] As residency-style tours reshape the live landscape, with millions of fans travelling for destination-based runs like Harry...
Cities & Communities | Brookings: The India-EU trade deal is also a strategic turning point
Source: Cities & Communities | Brookings Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Last week, India and the European Union (EU) achieved what, until just a year or two ago, many observers considered...
City Economies: Cleveland’s mayor, Seattle’s future: A conversation about what happens when a city’s economy shifts
Source: City Economies Author: Todd Bishop Date published: 2026-02-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. (City of Cleveland Photo) A guest column on GeekWire warning Seattle not to become “the next Cleveland” has...
Local Growth and the United Kingdom: Warnings raised over local growth fund as Wales faces job losses and service cuts
Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: Amelia Jones Date published: 2026-02-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Local growth fund Amelia Jones Serious concerns have been raised that the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund...
Local Economies (UK): Unsung Britain: working harder, getting nowhere
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Angelica Ottaway Date published: 2026-02-12 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Britain is not a country at ease. Over the past 18 months, in conversations we’ve had with over a hundred squeezed workers,...
Local Economies (UK): Fujifilm Biotechnologies celebrates biomanufacturing and process development expansion in UK
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-12 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Fujifilm Biotechnologies, a world leading contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for biologics, vaccines, and...
Combined Authorities (England): Construction of mass transit system between Bristol and Airport targeted to start within 5 years
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Thomas Johnson Date published: 2026-02-12 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) has announced it will focus on developing a mass transit system to take...