Overview
The Local Economic Growth Conference 2022 will provide leading policy and strategy updates to support you in delivering the Levelling Up agenda, driving local economic growth, and recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Attendees will be given the opportunity to learn how to drive economic growth across their local area by working in partnership across councils, universities, LEPs and businesses. Additionally, participants will hear from policy makers, best practice case study examples, and participate in workshops to develop the ability to effectively design and evaluate economic strategies.
Policy Background
The Levelling Up White Paper is expected in Autumn 2021, outlining the Government’s landmark policy to support the development and levelling up of local economies. As the UK emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, local recovery is clearly a Government priority, with the rebranding of MHCLG to focus on levelling up as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. The Government have set out to make ‘the biggest changes to the way we support local economic growth in a decade, in order to regenerate our town centres and high streets, support individuals into employment, improve local transport links and invest in local culture, while giving communities a stronger voice to take over cherished local assets that might otherwise be lost.’ (Gov.uk)
Boris Johnson’s “Plan for Growth” speech made it clear that Levelling Up goes far beyond just attempting to improve individual’s incomes. The levelling up agenda is a complete programme addressing inequalities in health, infrastructure, and education across communities is expected to be announced. Furthermore, the White Paper is expected to devolve further powers to Local Authorities and LEP’s, empowering them to set priorities according to local needs to drive economic growth.
Alongside implementing the Levelling Up Agenda, many communities face a pressing need to support local economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic. Despite the easing of restrictions, in July 2021, GDP remained 2.1% below is level in February 2020, with the construction and service industries remaining below February 2020 levels (Office for National Statistics). With the Levelling Up Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund offer almost £5 billion to support place-based economic strategies through funding for local infrastructure, high street regeneration, and skills development.
Sustainable and long-term local economic growth will rely on both recovery strategies, involving collaboration between Local Authorities, Universities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), BIDs, Combined Authorities and private sector businesses, and the effective implementation of the Levelling Up Agenda.
Online Experience
- Match making networking and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- Topic based discussion groups
- Next generation conference engagement platform
Key Speakers
Other Speakers
Agenda
- Day 1 - 26 January
- Day 2 - 27 January
- One on one networking opportunities and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform.
Our IG Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.
- Examining the published principles of levelling up, and what they mean for economic growth
- Highlighting the impact of different places, including city regions, towns, and rural areas
- Discussing the importance of bottom up development for supporting local growth
- Sharing mechanisms for intervention to encourage local growth
- Examining how the different elements of the Levelling Up Agenda should interact in order to maximise local economic growth sustainably
- Understanding the role of regional cities in improving growth in “left behind” areas
- Discussing the role of devolution in delivering the Levelling Up Agenda, and how Local Authorities can use their power to drive economic growth
- Highlighting the importance of flexibility and local input in the delivery of Levelling Up to ensure that it reflects local priorities
- Discussing the role of digital innovation in driving long-term, sustainable local and regional economic growth through investment and private sector partnerships
- Highlighting the funding available to support local digital innovation, and the routes to accessing both direct and indirect funding
- Sharing insight into how to encourage innovation that reflects local needs
Breckland Council have launched the “Future Breckland: Thriving People and Places” project to drive local recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project aims to engage with local stakeholders to support access to additional resources through instruments like the levelling and community renewal funds. In this session, Andrew will provide key insights into:
- How the programme has been developed to meet the specific priorities of towns within the district and reflect local strengths
- How the Council is engaging with external stakeholders to drive local growth
- The expected long-term impact of the programme on the local economy
Learning Outcomes:
- Know how to develop adaptive decision-making and delivery management practices to that can reflect local needs
- Understand how to collect and translate local data into useful local insights
- Refresh your understanding of what it means to be “place-based” in the face of increased online retail and remote working
- Understand the impact of Covid-19 on different populations, and how to implement strategies that address inequality
- One on one networking opportunities and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform.
Our IG Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.
Stevenage is the UK’s first New Town, and the plans to regenerate Stevenage represent an ambitious 20-year programme worth £1bn, including major residential and commercial developments. In this session, Tom will share key insights into:
- Why the regeneration programme was needed and how the council decided the key areas to focus on
- What the council hopes to achieve over the next 20 years including increased investment into the area and a flourishing night-time economy
- The impact that Covid-19 has had on regeneration plans
- How sustainability has been incorporated into all key aspects of the programme including housing, community facilities and public spaces
- Lessons learned so far during the implementation of the regeneration plan and outlining how government policy could impact future plans
Durham University’s UEZ (Orbit), based at NETPark, provides local businesses with access to the University’s research expertise, support and learning, test facilities and collaborative working opportunities. This session will provide key insights into:
- How the UEZ was established, including the role of local authorities and partners
- Lessons learned from the process of establishing a UEZ, and how further collaboration with local authorities can further its development
- What the UEZ hopes to achieve, and its role in driving local growth and innovation
The Essex & Hertfordshire Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) was created jointly by organisations from business, health, education, local authorities and the voluntary and community sector. Aiming to future-proof the local economy and services, the DIZ seeks to develop local digital infrastructure, and develop a strategic long-term plan for the enhancement of digital investment and applications across all partner organisations. This session will discuss:
- How the DIZ was developed in partnership with external stakeholders, and how they continue to be consulted in order to meet local needs
- Best practice for working with partners to drive local investment
- The impact of the DIZ on local development, service delivery, and economic growth
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand best practice for working with local businesses to improve the local economy
- Know how to promote the local employment offer and drive place-based growth
- Understand how to engage with schools to encourage skills development that supports local business needs
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the role of evaluation in supporting organisations from across sectors work in a sustainable place-based way
- Know how to embed evaluation in project design and understand how effectively projects are being delivered
- Develop the ability to identify what data to collect in order to assess your projects
- Understand what methods you can use to assess social value
*programme subject to change
Audience
This Conference is specifically designed for Local and Combined Authorities, LEPs, BIDs and the Higher Education Sector. Typical job titles will include:
- Heads of Economic Growth
- Directors of City Development
- Economic Development Managers
- Business Engagement Managers
- Directors of Resources
- Heads of Industrial Strategy
- Local Economy Managers
- Finance Officers
- Pro Vice-Chancellors
- Regeneration Managers
- Transformation Managers
- Business Development Managers
- Heads of Knowledge Exchange
- Directors of Employer Partnerships
Pricing
- Public Sector (Local & Central Gov/ LEPs/ Higher Education)£295 + VAT
- Voluntary Sector (Large - £1Million+ Annual Income)£245 + VAT
- Voluntary Sector (Small- Under £1Million Annual Income)£195 + VAT
- Private Sector£395 + VAT
