An operating philosophy for delivering devolution - built from thirty years of practice, original research, and the constructive lessons of four decades of policy.
The places that succeed are the places whose leaders can answer five questions, honestly and specifically, about everything they do: what problem are we solving, what is causing it, what would actually work, can we deliver it, and how will we know it worked. This book is about building the institution that can answer all five.
It is honest about the lessons of the past, national and local - and constructive about every one of them, because the point of understanding what has gone before is to do better.
Learning from the past to be great in the future.
Diagnosis before prescription - always.
Generating solutions worth delivering.
Delivery is where great places earn their results.
What makes all of it work.
One-page quick references between the chapters, summarising good professional practice across the functions - economic intelligence, skills and labour markets, enterprise and innovation, clusters and inward investment, place and regeneration, funding and finance, employability, net zero transition - and the professional skills of turning root causes into sharp objectives, designing fundable initiatives, and winning the decision. Each ends with a pointer to the fuller treatment in The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook.
Every discipline in this book needs a supporting organisational culture, people and leadership to become great at economic development.Chapter 11: The Organisation and Its People
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