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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That's 15 hours of online courses, access to exclusive online ebook of the Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook (cost £59.99 on Amazon), 27 workbooks, and 1 to 1 time with the Founder, Glenn. Tonight at midnight the...
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EDW Founder Membership Open Until 20 April 2026
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External news
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...
SmartCitiesWorld News: UK awards almost £50m to advanced air mobility sector
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2026-05-06 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Government investment aims to support regulatory, digital and security foundations to bring drones and AAM, such as...
RSA Main: 2026 Regional Studies Policy Debates Section Best Paper
Source: RSA Main Author: Alex Holmes Date published: 2026-05-05 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Watch as Phil Tomlinson, Editor of the Policy Debates section of Regional Studies, presents the 2026 Regional Studies Policy Debates Best Paper...