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?
Struggling to Make the Case for Innovation Funding?
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
Combined Authorities (England): University joins forces with key partners to launch £20m bid to supercharge regional economy
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] University joins forces with key partners to launch £20m bid to supercharge regional economy Posted on 16 March 2026 The...
Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development: Economic Development 212: How Incentives Really Influence Site Selection with Taylor Stepp
Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at:
Local Growth and the United Kingdom: Tourist taxes can boost economic growth across the UK
Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: ReasonableDisk5499 Date published: 2026-03-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] submitted by /u/ReasonableDisk5499[link][comments] View original article at:
Combined Authorities (England): Mayor unveils £1.5bn ‘People’s Network’ transport plan for South Yorkshire
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent Date published: 2026-03-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] South Yorkshire’s transport system will be known as the “People’s Network”, with trams, buses and...
Combined Authorities (England): ‘The West Midlands will tell a story of momentum,’ Mayor says as region set to take centre stage at UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2026
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Beverly Rademacher Date published: 2026-03-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Under the banner of ‘Momentum and Delivery: It Starts Here,’ the West Midlands delegation is heading to Leeds for...
Regional Economies: India plans to launch $11 billion fund to support domestic chipmaking
Source: Regional Economies Author: unknown Date published: 2026-03-12 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] By Sankalp Phartiyal India plans to unveil a more than ₹1 trillion ($10.8 billion) fund aimed at bolstering domestic chipmaking,...