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
Combined Authorities (England): £8.5m boost as Newcastle College expands clean energy training hub
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: gengelbrecht@newsquest.co.uk | Gavin Engelbrecht Date published: 2026-05-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The project will see the development of a purpose-built education centre at Newcastle...
Bloomberg CityLab: A Brutalist Housing Relic in Northern England Gets a Surprising Second Life
Source: Bloomberg CityLab Author: Richard Conway Date published: 2026-05-13 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The restoration of Park Hill, a sprawling concrete development once shunned by public housing residents, has sparked fears of...
Local Economies (UK): UK borrowing costs rise as Starmer speech fails to dispel investor ‘jitters’
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Tom Knowles Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The cost of government borrowing has crept higher as Keir Starmer’s crucial speech failed to dispel investor “jitters” in the bond...
City Economies: Partnership for New York City Warns of Job Losses in Higher-Tax Environment
Source: City Economies Author: Paul Bubny Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The Partnership for New York City warned in a new report Monday that proposed changes to New York’s business and tax environment could mean...
Combined Authorities (England): Simpler, shared system for describing skills needs launched
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] A new comprehensive way of identifying and describing skills needs will help employers, training providers, job seekers, and...
Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development: Economic Development 218: What Site Selectors Wish Economic Developers Understood with Mark Williams
Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at:
ICLEI: Who gets a say: How cities are engaging those often left out
Source: ICLEI Author: Barbara Riedemann Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Cities within the Malmö Commitment on Inclusive and Equitable Communities are undertaking their journey to understand what equity means in...
Centre for Cities: City Talks: Devolution’s next steps
Source: Centre for Cities Author: unknown Date published: 2026-05-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Chief Executive Andrew Carter is joined by Ant Breach, Director of Policy and Research, to discuss devolution following the passing of the...
𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀
Not because they weren't smart. Not because they didn't work hard. But because nobody had ever explained to them what economic development actually is. What is the mission? What is the function? What are the dilemmas you'll face when public purpose and private...