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 & Events | EUI: No city has to reinvent the wheel. Across Europe, bold ideas are already taking shape – from dedicated cycling lanes to car-light districts, from pedestrianised streets to smart traffic management systems. Every city has its own challenges and priorities, but the lessons learned elsewhere can accelerate change. This is where the European Urban Initiative (EUI) steps in, helping cities learn from one another and turn innovative concepts into tangible, on-the-ground results.
Source: News & Events | EUI Author: unknown Date published: 2025-10-03 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Overcoming car culture Shifting away from a “car culture” in a way that is owned and supported by citizens has become a common challenge...
News & Events | EUI: From walking to cycling, cities across Europe are experimenting with active mobility to make urban spaces healthier, greener, and more welcoming.
Source: News & Events | EUI Author: unknown Date published: 2025-10-03 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] The European Urban Initiative (EUI) Policy Lab on active mobility is supporting this effort by capitalising on existing experience,...
Local Economies (UK): BT promises 5G Standalone for 99% of the UK by 2030
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: unknown Date published: 2025-10-02 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] BT wants to have 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile service available to 99 percent of the local population by the end of the decade, but it...
Combined Authorities (England): New towns in England: what next for the winners and runners up?
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2025-10-02 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Which schemes will receive support as new towns? As trailed, the government has plumped for a mixed bag of 12 schemes...
International Economic Development Council: Competing Through Creativity & Resilience: How Regions Can Lead on Advanced Energy
Source: International Economic Development Council Author: RMI Date published: 2025-10-01 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Reflections from the International Economic Development Council Conference By Whitney Mann Creativity and efficiency...
Local Growth and the United Kingdom: UK’s entrepreneurial spirit ‘at an all-time high’
Source: Local Growth and the United Kingdom Author: Dan Martin Date published: 2025-10-01 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] A major annual study of entrepreneurship has found that the percentage of working-age adults either running a new...