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
News – Edmonton Global: Canada’s fastest growing metro? The Edmonton region
Source: News – Edmonton Global Author: Sherri Bouslama Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Statistics Canada dropped its annual update on population trends this month and once again, the Edmonton region stands out...
SmartCitiesWorld News: Transport for London unveils five-year plan to cut congestion
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Transport for London unveils five-year plan to cut congestionA signal-controlled junction in Central London; TfL...
Regional Economies: ‘Moments when history changes direction’: PM Modi on India–EU free trade pact amid turbulent global order
Source: Regional Economies Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Modi said the deal with the 27-member European Union is not merely a trade pact but a comprehensive framework for economic resilience,...
Local Economies (UK): India offers EU auto quota six times larger than UK deal
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] India has agreed to give European automakers a quota more than six times larger than any it has offered in recent times, slashing...
Local Economies (UK): Most young adults in UK are anxious about jobs and the economy, research suggests
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Amelia Hill Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] More than seven in 10 teens and young adults in the UK say they wish they were not starting their careers in the current economic...
Combined Authorities (England): Northern Powerhouse Rail agreements on stations and capacity plans signed
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] A potential underground Manchester Piccadilly station, pushing the case for a new Bradford station and improving capacity at...