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
Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development: Turning a Military Base into a Manufacturing Engine with Eric Voyles
Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2026-02-23 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at:
Regional Economies: U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs a welcome development for Canadian businesses
Source: Regional Economies Author: Mario Toneguzzi Date published: 2026-02-20 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Friday striking down many of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, including some of those levied...
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 –...
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...