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
Local Economies (UK): East meets North West as thousands enjoy Japan Week celebrations in Manchester and ties strengthened
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: unknown Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Ties have been strengthened and new partnerships forged as Mancunians turned out in their tens of thousands to immerse themselves in...
Local Economies (UK): Navi Mumbai International Airport: A Sneak Peak Ahead Of Inauguration
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: NDTV Profit Desk Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is entering a new era in aviation with the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International...
Local Economies (UK): Why local banking matters for net zero
Source: Local Economies (UK) Author: Helena Vieira Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Community banks are emerging as critical enablers of the net-zero transition, offering relationship-based lending and local market...
OECD Press Releases: OECD unemployment rate remained stable at 4.9% in July 2025
Source: OECD Press Releases Author: unknown Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] View original article at:
Combined Authorities (England): £6M investment for Greater Manchester Tram-Train network
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: Vicky Maggiani Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Greater Manchester’s public transport ambitions have received a major boost, with more than £6M allocated to develop a...
Combined Authorities (England): BBC’s £40m annual pledge for West Midlands TV
Source: Combined Authorities (England) Author: unknown Date published: 2025-09-11 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] BBC's £40m annual pledge for West Midlands TVEleanor Lawson, West MidlandsGetty ImagesThe agreement means the BBC will...