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): Tees Valley incubator attracts new innovators
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Bdaily Business News Date published: 2025-11-18 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Tees Valley incubator attracts new innovators A North East business support scheme is helping early-stage...
City Economies: London’s export power play: The idea that Brexit would somehow destroy the City was way off the mark, says ALEX BRUMMER
Source: City Economies Author: unknown Date published: 2025-11-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] London's export power play: The idea that Brexit would somehow destroy the City was way off the mark, says ALEX BRUMMERBy ALEX BRUMMER, CITY...
Local Growth and the United Kingdom: Getting Britain out of the hole
Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: lolikroli Date published: 2025-11-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] submitted by /u/lolikroli[link][comments] View original article at:
SmartCitiesWorld News: Cop30: mayors raise the ambition to phase out fossil fuels
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2025-11-17 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] C40 Cities, the global network of almost 100 mayors, is urging national governments to kick-start progress on a...
Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development: Economic Development 199: How Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Can Transform Local Economies with Martin Vanags
Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2025-11-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at:
Local Economies (UK): ‘I think the city is falling apart’: Leicester braces for a make-or-break budget
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Phillip Inman Date published: 2025-11-16 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Anika* has a full-time job, but says she never eats in local cafes or restaurants and takes her lunch to work. The cost of living...