Skills England to fix ‘fractured’ skills landscape
22/07/2024 A new body will tackle the ‘fractured’ skills landscape across England, the Prime Minister and education secretary have announced. |
King's Speech: Devolution takes centre stage
17/07/2024 The announcement of an English Devolution Bill took centre stage in the King's Speech. |
King's Speech: A plan for devolution
17/07/2024 The new Labour Government has set out a widespread plan for devolution and economic growth in its Parliamentary timetable, with central diktat reserved for planning proposals. |
Rayner: Labour ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’
09/07/2024 Deputy PM Angela Rayner is set to tell regional mayors that Labour is ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’ through a major programme of devolution. |
Reeves: Labour set to bring back housebuilding targets
08/07/2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce today that she will bring back compulsory housebuilding targets. |
LGPS quizzed in Labour economic growth push
04/07/2024 Labour has been asking local government pensions schemes their views on greater ‘investment into the UK’ as they look to drive growth, consultant says. |
Wakefield seeks acclaim as UK sculpture capital
18/06/2024 Wakefield Council has devised a plan to boost tourism and gain recognition as the UK capital of sculpture. |
Growth at heart of LGA White Paper
03/06/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for powers and funding so that councils can take a leading role in driving inclusive growth. |
Reeves: No return to austerity
29/05/2024 Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said there will be no return to austerity under a Labour Government. |
Mayors meet to hear growth plans
13/05/2024 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has summoned his party’s newly-elected mayors for a meeting to detail his plans for economic growth. |
Night-time economy leaders frustrated at lack of support
24/04/2024 Business leaders working in London's night-time economy have expressed their ‘frustration and anger’ at the lack of governmental support the sector receives. |
Addressing regional inequalities
18/04/2024 Andrew Borland, Chief Innovation Officer at the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), University of Liverpool discusses the importance of levelling up for growth. |
Call for evidence boost in local economic policy
16/04/2024 Centre for Cities has called for more evidence to be at the heart of local economic policy making. |
Worcestershire CC launches plan to boost tourism
14/03/2024 Worcestershire County Council has launched a new plan to grow the county’s ‘billion-pound tourism economy’. |
Report calls for more devolution to boost creative industries
23/01/2024 The further devolution of powers and funding connected to culture will help tackle economic stagnation and will boost to local communities, study finds. |
Levelling up must continue, urges think-tank
22/01/2024 Efforts to level up the country and devolve more powers to local government should continue following the General Election, a think-tank has urged. |
‘Bad health blackspots’ hold back growth
19/01/2024 Stark health inequalities are holding back economic growth, new research has found. |
Culture year to launch with raft of events
02/01/2024 A year-long programme of cultural activities in Wakefield is set to kick off with a day of 24 free events. |
‘Growth zones’ for West Midlands in UK first
22/12/2023 The West Midlands is to become the first UK region to receive new ‘growth zone’ powers, which the combined authority said could generate £1.7bn. |
Government confirms LEP funding
21/12/2023 Eligible councils will receive ‘up to’ £240,000 in 2024-25 to deliver the functions previously covered by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the Government has said. |
Autumn Statement: West Midlands investment zone confirmed
23/11/2023 An investment zone is set to be established in the West Midlands focusing on three sites in Warwickshire, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, Chancellor confirms. |
Nearly 460k unemployed due to unhealthy lifestyle
21/11/2023 Nearly 460,000 people in the UK are unemployed due to the health impact of tobacco, alcohol, and obesity, costing the economy £31.1bn. |
West Yorkshire to host £220m investment zone
21/11/2023 A new investment zone has been announced for West Yorkshire focused on life sciences. |
Land value tax could redistribute billions
09/11/2023 A plan to reform business rates could lead to billions of pounds being redistributed from high land value areas to other parts of the country. |
Call for local income tax collection for biggest city regions
08/11/2023 More taxation powers, including the ability to keep a proportion of income tax, should be devolved to England’s three biggest city regions, a think-tank has argued. |
Manifesto push for statutory economic powers
07/11/2023 The Institute of Economic Development (IED) has launched an ‘agenda for change’ with a continued call for councils to be given statutory duties on economic development. |
Optimism about Greater Manchester’s economy ‘badly misplaced’
21/09/2023 Greater Manchester should expand its city centre, improve connectivity, and build 126,000 more homes to boost its productivity, the Resolution Foundation says. |
Gove to ease nutrient neutrality requirements
29/08/2023 Ministers have announced they will ease divisive development rules on water pollution blamed for low housebuilding rates in rural areas. |
LEP functions to be transferred to upper-tier councils
04/08/2023 The Government has today confirmed it will transfer many Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions to upper-tier councils and combined authorities. |
VisitBritain HQ moves to Birmingham
20/07/2023 Birmingham will be home to VisitBritain’s new headquarters, the national tourism agency has announced. |
Hull plans ‘innovative’ box park venue
18/07/2023 Hull CC will consider developing a ‘box park’ site on what is currently waste land, with the aim of attracting visitors to the city centre and creating jobs. |
Cities call for new devolved powers
18/07/2023 A group of cities today demanded new devolved powers and investment to help the UK become a science and innovation ‘superpower’. |
South Yorkshire named as UK’s first investment zone
17/07/2023 South Yorkshire was named by the Government on Friday as the site of the first UK investment zone. |
Public libraries generate £3.4bn a year, study finds
07/07/2023 England’s public libraries generate at least £3.4bn each year, a landmark new analysis has revealed. |
Pledge promotes prosperity
04/07/2023 Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council, explains the local authority’s Pledge ahead of the council’s presentation at the LGA’s annual conference. |
Barnsley launches new initiative to boost employment
04/07/2023 Barnsley Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have launched a new initiative to support thousands of residents into employment. |
Plans for South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub unveiled
29/06/2023 South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced plans to create 300 apprenticeships in the region through a new Apprenticeship Hub. |
Closing council gender gap could boost output £23bn
15/06/2023 Closing the gender employment gap in UK local authorities would increase economic output by £23bn or 1% of GDP, according to campaigners. |
Doncaster council’s fight to reopen airport gets £3m boost
06/06/2023 The fight to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been given a £3.1m boost by South Yorkshire's mayoral combined authority. |
Oxford and Swindon top ‘good growth’ index
26/05/2023 Oxford and Swindon have come out top in a ranking of cities according to their residents’ economic wellbeing, with Bristol and Exeter following closely behind. |
London boroughs agree first infrastructure framework
17/05/2023 All 33 local authorities across London have agreed an infrastructure framework on a cross-party, pan-London basis for the first time. |
Council chiefs call for statutory powers to boost economy
16/05/2023 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to give councils statutory powers over economic development. |
North East has highest percentage of empty shops
10/05/2023 The North East has the highest percentage of empty high street shops in Britain, a new study has revealed. |
‘Red Wall’ areas score poorly on social fabric index
02/05/2023 Local communities in areas won by the Conservatives from Labour in 2019 have continued to face decline despite the levelling up agenda, think tank finds. |
Cornwall Council’s space centre launches new R&D facility
28/04/2023 The space centre owned by Cornwall Council has opened a new building for businesses developing and launching satellites. |
Labour pledges to revitalise high streets
12/04/2023 Labour will today promote its plan to revitalise ailing high streets through a £700m fund to help small businesses with soaring energy bills. |
Why a circular economy is good for local government
23/03/2023 Wayne Hubbard, CEO of ReLondon, argues that green measures can save councils money and help local businesses. |
West Midlands CA welcomes unspent Commonwealth Games funding
20/03/2023 Around £70m of unspent Commonwealth Games funding is to be used to develop the West Midlands economy and boost its trade and tourism sectors. |
New Buckinghamshire film studios to create 1,200 jobs
17/03/2023 Buckinghamshire Council has granted planning permission for a new eight-stage film studio expected to support 1,200 jobs. |
Budget 2023: Hunt confirms investment zone cash
15/03/2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed in the spring budget plans to go ahead with 12 investment zones, each backed by a multi-million-pound injection of cash. |
MPs call for more power to be granted to London’s councils
13/03/2023 MPs have called for more power and resources to be devolved to London’s local authorities in order to boost the capital’s productivity. |
Systemic sexism costs economy over £88bn a year
08/03/2023 Barriers faced by women wanting to work is costing the economy in England, Scotland and Wales £88.7bn every year, according to new research. |
Councils should become primary provider of childcare, survey finds
06/03/2023 Councils should become the primary provider of state-subsidised childcare designed to get parents back to work and boost productivity, a new survey has found. |
Shetland council launches campaign to attract fishing boats
01/03/2023 Shetland Islands Council and Lerwick Port Authority have joined forces to encourage fishing boats to land in their harbours. |
Treasury tightens grip over DLUHC spending
08/02/2023 New capital projects by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will now have to be approved by the Treasury. |
Leicestershire council to convert its office into hotel
06/02/2023 A Leicestershire council is planning to turn parts of its office into a hotel because staff working from home means less space is needed. |
Poor health 'undermining UK economy' think tank warns
08/12/2022 Mental health problems are the most common reason for people being unable to work new research has revealed. |
Labour outlines huge devolution push
05/12/2022 Labour proposes removing ‘dead hand of centralisation’ by devolving to local government wide-ranging powers over employment, growth, transport and education. |
Liverpool signs deal for £70m Littlewoods project
04/12/2022 The developers behind the £70m Littlewoods project have signed a deal with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council to kick start the project. |
Think tank warns against ‘anti-London sentiment’
30/11/2022 A think tank has accused policymakers of ‘anti-London sentiment’ and urged Whitehall to do more to include the capital in the levelling up agenda. |
Reeves to make case for economic devolution
23/11/2022 The shadow chancellor will make the case for ‘deeper and broader’ economic devolution as Labour stresses the need for ‘more local powers’ over the economy. |
Colchester and Reading join Key Cities network
21/11/2022 Colchester and Reading today announced that they have joined Key Cities, a network representing the UK’s urban areas, to help drive their economic growth. |
Council leader welcomes plans to relocate famous markets
18/11/2022 The leader of Barking and Dagenham council, Cllr Darren Rodwell, has welcomed plans to relocate Billingsgate and Smithfield wholesale markets to Dagenham Dock. |
Autumn statement: Investment zones ‘refocus’ in Autumn Statement
17/11/2022 Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has binned ‘existing expressions of interest’ from councils to set up investment zones as the Government moves to ‘refocus’ the programme. |
Women’s Euro 2022 gives Sheffield £8m boost
18/10/2022 Sheffield’s hosting of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 gave the city’s economy an £8.3m boost, new research reveals. |
Decline of economic vitality across 20 UK cities is 'accelerating'
10/10/2022 Nottingham has seen the biggest drop in its economic vitality rating compared to other UK cities, new research has revealed today. |
Councils invited to host Investment Zones
03/10/2022 Local authorities are now able to apply to host a new Investment Zone, the Government announced over the weekend. |
Government urged to ‘turbocharge’ devolution
26/09/2022 Council leaders have urged the Government to go ‘further’ with devolution and to conclude deals with the first cohort of county areas by the end of autumn. |
Mini-Budget: Kwarteng's plans to boost economic growth
23/09/2022 New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has unveiled a mini-Budget aimed at boosting the economy and growing his way out of the country’s financial woes. |
Local government ‘over-centralised’, think tanks say
02/09/2022 Local government is over-centralised, inefficient, and under-resourced and is harming the UK economy, a new report says. |
Call for new PM to boost role of LEPs
08/08/2022 The next PM must better support small businesses through Local Enterprise Partnerships if the UK is to ride the forthcoming recession, business leaders warn. |
Think tank calls for beefed up levelling up
26/07/2022 A think tank has demanded the next government reverse council funding cuts and beef up the levelling up Bill after new figures revealed public spending continues to leave the North behind. |
‘Parallel pandemic’ of mental ill health cost North £2bn
25/07/2022 The number of mental ill health cases in the North of England were much higher during the pandemic than in any other part of the country and cost £2bn. |
Boldly going where Birmingham has never gone before
21/07/2022 Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, explains the integral role of the local authority in delivering the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. |
Second round of Levelling Up Fund opens for bids
18/07/2022 Councils are being urged to bid for a share of £4.8bn as part of the Government's Levelling Up Fund. |
Outer London left behind in post-COVID recovery
13/06/2022 Ethnically diverse local authority areas on the outskirts of London are being left behind in the post-pandemic recovery, think tank warns. |
Index to help drive levelling up published
11/05/2022 The planning and development consultancy Lichfields has created an index to help local authority areas capitalise on the levelling up agenda. |
Belfast tops index for economic vitality growth
11/05/2022 Belfast has achieved the highest growth in economic vitality out of 20 key cities in the UK, a new index has revealed. |
Levelling up plans will fail, IfG report claims
31/03/2022 The Government’s plans for levelling up will not cut regional inequality, a report from the influential Institute for Government (IfG) has claimed. |
Glasgow tops list of most economically resilient cities
23/03/2022 Glasgow has proven to be the city with the most resilient economy in the face of the pandemic, a new study has revealed. |
Devolution for all: Gove unveils long-awaited White Paper
02/02/2022 By 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal, the Government’s long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper has revealed. |
National approach to levelling up is 'ineffective' warns study
01/02/2022 Policies to address regional inequalities should be tailored to individual communities’ needs, according to the results of a new study. |
Bradford has most 'levelling up' potential, Index finds
17/01/2022 New research has revealed the towns and cities in England that could make the best use of the Government’s levelling up funding. |
More power to metro mayors, northern leaders say
06/12/2021 Business and civic leaders in the North have called for metro mayors to be given more powers over transport infrastructure, education and skills to drive the ‘levelling-up’ agenda. |
Wales tops economic vitality index
16/11/2021 A new economic vitality index has revealed that Wales managed to weather the COVID-19 pandemic better than the UK’s other home countries. |
Government allocates £200m Community Renewal Funding
04/11/2021 The Government has announced which projects will receive a share of the £200m Community Renewal Funding, and has given local authorities extra time to spend the money. |
Report calls for new deal to help East London level up
03/11/2021 Local London should be given a subregional growth deal to help eastern boroughs ‘level up’ and deliver their full potential, a report has argued today. |
What do we want to see from the Levelling Up White Paper?
15/10/2021 Zo Hoida discusses recent claims from the National Infrastructure Commission that the government’s ‘levelling up’ plan will fail. |
Digital innovation could bring over £1 trillion to local economies by 2030 says report
11/10/2021 Local and regional authorities should be given greater capabilities to facilitate digital innovation in their area, to bring more than £1 trillion of added value to local economies, according to a new report. |
Social care contributes £50.3bn to economy, study reveals
08/10/2021 The adult social care sector and its skilled workforce contributes billions of pounds to the English economy, according to a new report. |
Union calls for reversal of pay cuts to give economy £3.3bn boost
24/09/2021 The TUC has called on the Chancellor to reverse public sector pay cuts in the spending review as a means of supporting the post-pandemic recovery. |
Ministry in rebrand to put levelling up centre stage
20/09/2021 New secretary of state Michael Gove will preside over a beefed up new department with a firm focus on levelling up, it has been revealed. |
Levelling up too focused on infrastructure, claims report
14/09/2021 Ministers’ ‘levelling up’ agenda is too focused on new infrastructure projects at the expense of improving key public services, councils representing English towns and cities have warned. |
Rural and coastal economies could see £51bn boost by 2030 report finds
14/09/2021 The recovery from the pandemic could deliver a £51bn economic boost to rural areas by 2030, according to a new report. |
Sheffield and Milton Keynes win £1.4m housing funding
10/09/2021 Milton Keynes and Sheffield have been awarded £1.4m to help kickstart regeneration and deliver new homes and jobs in each area. |
Councils warn half a million jobs at risk in urban centres
10/09/2021 Half a million jobs could be lost in urban centres as a result of the pandemic, new analysis has revealed today. |
Guidance to help councils boost exports published
07/09/2021 Local authority leaders are urging councils to adopt internationalisation strategies that would help local businesses export their goods and services. |
UK’s first regional bank granted licence
26/08/2021 The UK’s first regional bank has been granted its banking licence and will open the doors of its first branch in Manchester later this year. |
Building wealth from within
12/08/2021 Tom Lloyd Goodwin, associate director – policy at the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), looks at the history of community wealth-building. |
Planning policy, a logistical nightmare
09/08/2021 Consultancy Turley's Andrea Kellegher looks at how the industrial sector could drive economic recovery if councils could increase logistics land delivery. |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.