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?

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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
Area Development Online Current Issue Feed: Front Line: A Single Front Door for Corporate Investment in Fort Worth
Source: Area Development Online Current Issue Feed Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] In 2023, the city and its business community created the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (EDP), a...
Area Development Online Current Issue Feed: The Skilled Trades Are Ready for a Digital Future
Source: Area Development Online Current Issue Feed Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Navigating the intricacies of the skilled trades industry has never been straightforward, but today we’re standing...
Combined Authorities (England): Devolution decisions go before council cabinet
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Sarah Booker-Lewis - local democracy reporter Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The government may have postponed the election of the first mayor of Sussex for two...
Cities & Communities | Brookings: Exploring and expanding skills development across the built environment
Source: Cities & Communities | Brookings Author: unknown Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Executive summary Millions of workers construct, operate, and maintain the nation’s built environment systems and...
Local Economies (UK): Mayor’s boost for London’s Creative Enterprise Zones with further £2.2 million to reverse decline in artist studios
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: 2026-01-15T13:20:02+0000 Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The Mayor’s hugely successful Creative Enterprise Zones will increase permanent affordable creative workspace in the...
SmartCitiesWorld News: Which cities have improved their use of data?
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2026-01-15 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Which cities have improved their use of data?What Works Cities Certification aims to be the international standard...


