Overview
In England, economic development support structures are designed to enable place-based economic growth by aligning national priorities with local needs and opportunities. These structures comprise a mix of governmental bodies, local authorities, partnerships, and community-led organisations that work collaboratively to stimulate investment, create jobs, upskill the workforce, and regenerate areas.
At the national level, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) provide funding and policy direction. Regionally combined authorities, local authorities and growth hubs act as strategic drivers of regional economic priorities.
Complementing these national and regional structures are organisations such as development trusts, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), anchor organisation networks and enterprise hubs which deliver tailored support at the neighbourhood or town level.
Working In partnership with local businesses, these interconnected structures aim to foster inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economic development rooted in the unique strengths and challenges of each place. See what this looks like in the 'birds eye view'.
Key Agendas
Successful collaboration starts with truly understanding what matters to your partners. Here's a quick guide to some of the key agendas you might come across when working to develop relationships in this area.
Skills Development and Employment
Local authorities and combined authorities often partner with educational institutions, including universities, to enhance local skills through apprenticeships, training programs, and initiatives to address skills gaps. They may lead or support employment programs aimed at reducing unemployment and improving employability.
Business Growth and Innovation
- Local authorities develop programs to support local businesses, including start-up accelerators, innovation hubs, and business grants.
- Many regions have strategies to foster innovation through collaboration between businesses and research institutions like universities, particularly in sectors such as digital technology, green energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Regeneration and Place-Making
- Authorities focus on regeneration to revitalise town centers, repurpose underused spaces, and attract investment. Examples include mixed-use developments and cultural quarter initiatives.
- Place-making strategies might involve improving public spaces, investing in arts and culture, and enhancing local amenities to make areas more attractive for businesses and residents.
- Place-making can be a loaded term to use, understand how this word is used by partners.
Sustainable Economic Development
- Achieving net-zero and promoting green growth is increasingly a priority, with local councils developing strategies to promote renewable energy, sustainable transport, and green jobs.
- Universities often play a role here, providing research and innovation support for sustainable technologies and practices.
Inclusive Growth
- Many councils aim for economic development that benefits all residents, addressing social inequalities by ensuring that new job opportunities and investment are accessible to underserved communities.
- Strategies may include community-led economic initiatives and targeted skills programs for disadvantaged groups.
Top Tips for Working Together
Here are some key insights to help you collaborate more effectively with other actors in your place:
Partnership Development
- Collaborate with local councils and local businesses to support local economic strategies, particularly in areas such as skills development, innovation, and research.
- Universities can offer expertise in developing regional innovation ecosystems or supporting industry-academia partnerships.
Advisory Boards and Working Groups
- Join local economic development boards or committees within councils or BIDs to influence and co-create policies that impact the local economy.
- Establish advisory boards within the university that include local economic development representatives to align university projects with local needs.
Research and Consultancy
- Provide research support for councils or local businesses looking to gather data on economic trends, the impact of new policies, or the viability of regeneration projects.
- Offer consultancy services or expertise on issues such as digital transformation, green growth, and innovation strategy development.
Innovation and Enterprise Hubs
- Establish or partner with local enterprise centers or incubators that support start-ups and businesses with space, resources, and networking opportunities.
- Use university facilities as shared spaces for business and community projects, such as co-working spaces or research labs accessible to local firms.
Community and Social Enterprise Projects
- Universities can lead or support local social enterprise initiatives that address social and economic challenges, providing a platform for students and researchers to work directly with the community.
- Engage in local events and forums aimed at promoting social and economic development, showcasing university projects that have a local impact.
Policy Engagement and Consultation
- Actively participate in public consultations for local economic plans or infrastructure projects, providing evidence-based feedback or expertise.
- Universities can influence local economic policies by publishing research that aligns with council agendas, such as reports on the benefits of green infrastructure or digital inclusion.
Existing Relationships in your University
Universities are made up of many departments, faculties, schools etc., all of these are made up of individuals who may already have existing relationships with economic development organisations. It's really important to respect existing relationships and work with colleagues who have already spent time and care building them.
Where might partnerships already exist in your university?
Teaching
What courses does your university offer? Look out for business schools, schools of public policy, urban studies, economics, or geography. These courses might have elements of community engaged learning, service-based learning or placements in local employers focussing on economic development.
- Contact programme leaders or directors of teaching and learning.
- Look for industry advisory boards linked to faculties or departments.
Is there a continuing education / professional development unit? Does it work with external employers or organisations?
The careers and employability team may partnering with local employers for placements, apprenticeships, and live projects. Reach out to careers officers, employability leads or placement officers.
Look out for and attend curriculum co-creation events, employer engagement forums, or careers fairs.
Research
Does your university undertake research focussed on regional studies, economic geography, public policy or sustainability? This may be in the form of specific centres of research institutes, or the specialism of individual researchers.
- Browse research centres websites or university research portals for themes like "inclusive growth," "urban regeneration," or "regional development." Look out for research commissioned by combined or local authorities.
- Search for policy publications, consultancy reports, or impact case studies related to place.
- Email principal investigators, research centre directors, or policy impact leads.
- Ask the research and innovation office for contacts in place-related projects.
- Attend knowledge exchange events, public lectures, or policy workshops.
Operations
University are large employers and buyers of goods and services, they have a sizeable economic impact on their place. Many universities undertake economic impact assessments to understand the economic value they bring to their place.
- Read the university's sustainability, procurement, or HR strategy. Look for mentions of local procurement, social value, or living wage commitments.
- Explore whether the university is part of an anchor institution network or community wealth building initiative.
- Reach out to Heads of Procurement, Sustainability Managers, or HR Business Partners.
Central Activity
Contributing to local economic growth is often core to a university strategy. Read strategic documentation to understand the universities commitment to economic development.
Equally, as part of the other side of the relationship, local authorities often have a commitment to working with universities.
- Look for the university's Civic University Agreement (CUA) or public engagement strategy.
- Identify which boards or regional groups the Vice-Chancellor or senior team sit on (e.g. Anchor Networks, Town Boards, Combined Authorities).
- Check for central partnerships between teams e.g. external affairs, or civic engagement.
- Check with your local authority to see what relationships they have with universities.
- Start with the Director of Civic or External Engagement, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Place, or Knowledge Exchange Lead.
- Attend university-hosted civic events, policy briefings, or regional stakeholder events.
- Join or ask to present at university-local authority roundtables or strategic planning groups.
Who might you work with?
Explore some of the key people you might partner with:
Economic Development Officer
AKA: regeneration officer, economic regeneration officer, economic adviserWhat do they do?
Develop and implement local economic strategies. Manage business support programmes, investment promotion, or sector development.
Where you might find them?
Local authorities (district, borough, city councils), Combined authorities, Economic partnerships or consultancy firms.
What's important to them?
- Growing the local economy sustainably.
- Attracting and retaining businesses.
- Balancing economic growth with inclusive and environmental goals.
- Meeting policy targets and funding criteria.
Local Growth Officer
AKA: Regeneration Officer, Economic Regeneration OfficerWhat do they do?
Deliver place-based growth programmes, monitor and evaluate economic initiatives and investments, Build partnerships between the council, businesses, and communities.
Where you might find them?
Local councils or combined authorities, regional Growth Hubs or Government-funded economic initiatives.
What's important to them?
- Delivering measurable local impact (jobs, investment, regeneration).
- Unlocking opportunities in underperforming areas.
- Collaboration across organisations
Business Advisor
AKA: business consultant, business coach, business mentorWhat do they do?
Offer tailored advice to startups, microbusinesses, and SMEs, support business planning, access to finance, marketing, and innovation.
Refer clients to grants, networking, training or incubation opportunities.
Where you might find them?
Local authority business support teams, Growth Hubs or enterprise agencies, Chambers of commerce or social enterprise support organisations.
What's important to them?
- Supporting business resilience and growth.
- Enabling job creation and innovation.
- Being responsive to diverse business needs.
Regeneration Programme Manager
AKA: Regeneration Manager, Regeneration Projects Manager, Head of RegenerationWhat do they do?
Manage the delivery of large-scale place-based projects (e.g. town centre renewal, transport upgrades).
Oversee budgets, timelines, contractors, and community engagement.
Where you might find them?
City or borough councils, Urban development partnerships or Combined Authorities, Housing associations or regional development agencies.
What's important to them?
- Delivering high-impact, visible projects on time and on budget.
- Community benefit and long-term economic value.
- Partnership working across public, private, and third sectors.
Employment and Skills Coordinator
AKA: Work and Skills Coordinators, Employment Support CoordinatorsWhat do they do?
Develop and manage local employment and training programmes, connect jobseekers with training, apprenticeships, or employment support and work with employers to identify skills gaps and develop workforce plans.
Where you might find them?
Local authorities or Combined Authorities, FE colleges, skills partnerships, or Jobcentre Plus partnerships, Voluntary sector employability providers.
What's important to them?
- Increasing access to good jobs, especially for disadvantaged groups.
- Matching training provision to local labour market demand.
- Reducing unemployment rates and promoting social mobility.
Community Development Officer
AKA: Community Development Worker, Social PrescriberWhat do they do?
Work with residents, grassroots groups, and local services to build community capacity. Support social action, volunteering, and local enterprise. Empower communities to co-design services or manage local assets.
Where you might find them?
Councils (especially neighbourhood or engagement teams), Development trusts or community anchor organisations, Housing associations or charitable foundations.
What's important to them?
- Strengthening community resilience and cohesion.
- Promoting inclusive participation in local decision-making.
- Supporting local-led solutions to economic and social challenges.
- Building trust and long-term relationships.
Birds Eye View
Key organisations and structures, click on the organisation to find out more.
National Bodies:
Government bodies:
Non-government bodies:
Regional Level:
Local Level:
Case Studies & Resources
Browse a range of other resources relevant to this infrastructure:
