CPD, training and skills in Local and Regional Economic Development
Expert knowledge, proven frameworks, and practical tools for local authority officers, consultants, and practitioners delivering regional growth strategies, innovation programmes, and place-based policy – built from 32 years of working in the field
- 15 hours of on-demand courses covering the 8 disciplines of local and regional economic development
- Practical workbooks (e.g. FDI from scratch; develop a great project idea)
- Community, chatrooms, discussion
- Mentoring and coaching support
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Skills and training in local and regional economic development
The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook
The Practitioner’s Guide for Everyone Whose Work Shapes Places and Economies
Whether you work in planning, property, higher education, skills, government, or community development — the economic forces reshaping UK places are directly reshaping your work. And if you work in economic development itself, you’ve never had a handbook like this one.
The Local & Regional Economic Development Handbook is the comprehensive, honest, practitioner-authored guide to how local economies work, why economic development so often fails to deliver what it promises, and what those working in and around the field can do differently.
Endorsements
“A big shout out to Glenn Athey who has taken his many years in economic development consultancy and created Economic Development World (www.economicdevelopment.world), the UK’s first online community for local and regional economic development that provides CPD, on-demand lean learning, a community of peers and workbooks. Built on three pillars of accelerated learning, shared knowledge and community support, it is a fabulous resource for our industry.
“From what I have seen already, this has the potential to create a step change in how the UK delivers economic development, putting the skills and development of practitioners, whether newbies or old hands, front and centre. Get yourselves signed up, get involved and support this great initiative.”
Adam Breeze, Breeze Strategy
“2026 has to be the year that economic development professionals take the important steps, from policy comment, strategic views, to decisive practictioner application and delivery. Critical is to have an accessible platform for CPD, training, and a focused community to ask questions and discuss best practice and aspects of local and regional economic development. I am delighted that an established and respected colleague Glenn Athey has founded and created this resource on www.economicdevelopment.world .”
Mark Pearson, Head of Economic Development, Reading's Economy & Destination Agency (REDA)

Want Local and Regional Economic Development Strategies that Actually Get Implemented?

Want to Persuade Political Leaders to Invest in Economic Development?

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Founded by Glenn Athey, an Economic Development Professional and Advisor With 32 Years of Supporting UK Economic Development
LPIP Fellow, University of Birmingham
Author of "The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook"
Latest News and Advice
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External news
Local Economies (UK): Local authorities sitting on £9bn in developer contributions
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: The Construction Index Date published: 2026-03-02 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) estimates that local authorities in England and Wales are now sitting on...
Combined Authorities (England): ‘A supersized planning authority but still no agreed vision for Greater Cambridge’
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: newsdesk@iliffemedia.co.uk (Newsdesk Cambridge) Date published: 2026-03-01 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Opinion | Edward LeighThe government’s plan to create a Greater Cambridge Development...
City Economies: ‘Investment in mass rapid transit essential in making a city more liveable’
Source: City Economies Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-28 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] On his third trade mission to India recently, Andrew Barr, Minister for Tourism and Trade, Australia, and Chief Minister, Australian Capital...
News & Events | EUI: Turning a strong idea into a solid urban project takes more than inspiration. It takes time, expertise, testing
Source: News & Events | EUI Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-26 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] With the launch of Call 4 for Innovative Actions, the European Urban Initiative (EUI) is once again stepping in to support cities across...
Local Growth and the United Kingdom: Cambridge and Manchester Universities meet for innovation partnership
Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: Rhea Goel Date published: 2026-02-26 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The partnership intends to combine the research strengths of the two institutions, alongside their respective...
International Economic Development Council: Economic Developer Role Shifting from Deal-Making to Systems Stewardship
Source: International Economic Development Council Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-26 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] You're in a meeting about childcare. Not business attraction, not incentives, not site selection. Childcare. Three...

