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)

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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
Econ Dev Show Podcast – Economic Development: Economic Development 183: Small-Scale Manufacturing as Community Development Strategy with Ilana Preuss
Source: Econ Dev Show Podcast - Economic Development Author: unknown Date published: 2025-07-28 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Social Network Quick Links View original article at:
SmartCitiesWorld News: Germany to deploy battery trains on busy commuter route
Source: SmartCitiesWorld News Author: SmartCitiesWorld news team Date published: 2025-07-28 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Siemens Mobility has officially presented its low-emission battery trains at the Wegberg-Wildenrath test centre in...
Cities & Communities | Brookings: Namibia’s foreign minister on the transformative impact of trade and foreign policy for Africa’s development
Source: Cities & Communities | Brookings Author: unknown Date published: 2025-07-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] [music] SIGNÉ: Hello, I am Landry Signé, senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program and the Africa Growth...
Bloomberg CityLab: CityLab’s Most Popular Stories This Week
Source: Bloomberg CityLab Author: unknown Date published: 2025-07-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US View original article at:
Cities & Communities | Brookings: From federal investment to regional economic transformation: A new model linking industry growth to economic mobility
Source: Cities & Communities | Brookings Author: unknown Date published: 2025-07-27 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] Next month marks the three-year anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act, a major piece of legislation that aimed to rebuild...
Culture on Medium: Urban Financial Dynamics — Economic Powerhouses in Europe’s Major Cities
Source: Culture on Medium Author: Malte Persson & Immediate Root Date published: 2025-07-25 [original article can be accessed via hyperlink at the end] European city economies act as financial magnets and growth engines. Here’s how four major centers perform:Continue...

