x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

LED Confidential

LED Confidential

Podcast about local economic development and placemaking. Co-hosted by Mike Spicer of PolicyDepartment and David Marlow of Third Life Economics. Mike, David and guests address the divisive, often unspoken issues facing economic development professionals in 2020s Britain. Website: www.ledconfidential.co.uk

government

All Episodes

00:10:59

What do the May 2025 local election results mean for...

LED Confidential ·

2025/05/30

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike unpack the economic development and placemaking implications of the May 2025 local government elections in England. These saw the Reform Party gain two Combined Authority Mayors and control of several councils. They explore what this shift means for local growth, devolution, and regional collaboration. What does the future hold for the cohesion of pan-regional partnerships in northern England or the Oxford–Cambridge corridor?

en

00:10:52

Power cuts and cyber attacks - economic development...

LED Confidential ·

2025/05/23

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike explore how local leadership teams can build resilience into economic development and place-making strategies in an age of perma- crisis. Reflecting on recent power outages and cyber attacks, extreme weather and infrastructure shocks, they discuss how places can prepare for the unexpected. Drawing on lessons from recent crises and long-term planning approaches, they examine the trade-offs between efficiency and resilience—and what it means for the future

en

00:45:33

Can Innovation Districts and Knowledge Quarters...

LED Confidential ·

2025/05/16

David and Mike are joined by Emma Frost, Chair of the UK Innovation Districts Group, to explore how innovation districts can drive inclusive growth. They discuss the essential ingredients of successful districts, how to manage the risks of exclusion and gentrification, and why collaborative leadership and long-term thinking can unlock their full potential.

en

00:10:45

What can local leaders do when faced with a major...

LED Confidential ·

2025/05/08

What can local leaders do when faced with the closure of a major employment site like British Steel in Scunthorpe that the UK government stepped in to save? When thousands of jobs are at stake is there a rulebook to follow or is politics all?

en

00:10:33

Trump, tariffs, and local economic development

LED Confidential ·

2025/05/01

What does an aggressively protectionist US trade policy mean for local economies in the States and further afield? Can it re-industrialise Appalachia, or is it doomed to fail?

en

00:44:57

Transforming place-based growth with Mayoral Combined...

LED Confidential ·

2025/04/25

In this episode, David and Mike explore the transformative potential of Mayoral Combined Authorities in England for economic development and public services. They are joined Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of the North East CombinedAuthority and one of the few professionals in the sector to have occupied senior positions in three MCAs . Through the lens of England's North East, they discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by MCAs, the importance of their leadership to places, and how the

en

00:11:31

St Helena Airport: South Atlantic lessons for the...

LED Confidential ·

2025/04/10

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike unpack the implications of the recent NAO report on St Helena's Airport for local economic development and devolution in the UK. They explore the lessons that can be dawn from the airport's business case and its proposed contribution to the island's financial self-sufficiency. Join them as they ask: how should we define sustainable growth and financial independence for 'peripheral' places?

en

00:08:44

Does the UK's Plan for Neighbourhoods mark a change...

LED Confidential ·

2025/04/03

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike unpack the UK Government's newly announced Plan for Neighbourhoods. They explore whether this initiative represents a genuine step change for local economic development or if it's merely a repackaging of the previous government's approach. They ask: how can we learn from past experience to maximise the impact of this programme? Join them as they dissect its components and discuss its implications for community involvement and local economic

en

00:43:02

How to be an effective place champion: lessons in...

LED Confidential ·

2025/03/27

David and Mike explore Cambridge's tech-led economic development, its role as a global tech hub, and the challenges and opportunities of being a focus of national growth plans. Joined by Dan Thorp, CEO of Cambridge Ahead, they discuss lessons for other city regions and how non-governmental place champions like CA can effectively promote their success.

en

00:12:17

How will a surge in defence spending affect local...

LED Confidential ·

2025/03/20

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike explore the implications of the UK Government's announcement that defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a longer-term goal of 3%. Which regions will benefit most? And how should local economic development leaders and professionals respond to the resulting opportunities and challenges of this policy change? Tune in for insights on the potential economic impact, regional rebalancing, and the strategic importance of understanding

en

00:46:24

Putting the ‘local’ in local government

LED Confidential ·

2025/03/06

David and Mike speak are joined by Ian Fytche, long-serving former CEO of North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire. They ask: will the current approach to local government reform take the ‘local’ out of local authorities in England? And how is placemaking impacted by scale and does it demand different types of leadership?

en

00:11:13

Should your Local Growth Plan include an AI Growth Zone?

LED Confidential ·

2025/02/27

What is an AI Growth Zone in the UK? Should your area be making plans for one? And what does this latest flavour of economic zone say about the future of zonal policies and designations in Britain? Join David and Mike as they unpack the issues.

en

00:08:44

How can local government balance economic growth and...

LED Confidential ·

2025/02/20

With its recent announcements of support for environmentally contentious projects like building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, has the UK Government struck the right balance between its economic growth and environmental priorities? And how can we manage any economic and environmental tensions and trade offs locally?In this short Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the challenges local governments face in balancing economic growth and environmental priorities. They explore the

en

00:09:52

Decoding Rachel Reeves growth plan for local economic...

LED Confidential ·

2025/02/13

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike delve into the implications of Rachel Reeves' January 2025 growth plan for local economic development and regional disparities across the UK. They explore whether the measures announced will shift priorities for sub-national growth strategies and discuss the potential impacts on local decision-makers and professionals. Key topics include the Oxford to Cambridge growth corridor, and Heathrow's third runway. How will these initiatives affect

en

00:43:41

How to empower local communities through inclusive...

LED Confidential ·

2025/02/06

How can local communities actively participate in and share the benefits of major government reforms and changes? Join David and Mike as they explore the pathways to inclusive innovation and participatory democracy with Kersten England, a champion of community empowerment.In this episode, they dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of ensuring local communities have a meaningful voice and stake in the big ticket changes being driven by local government in the UK. Kersten England, with her

en

00:09:53

What's going wrong with the UK's economic and labour...

LED Confidential ·

2025/01/30

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike reflect on the growing chorus of high-profile criticism of the quality of UK official statistics and what this might mean for local economic development. They ask - what are the issues, and what are the consequences of this data crisis? How should sector professionals and local leadership teams respond?

en

00:09:42

What next for fiscal devolution in the UK?

LED Confidential ·

2025/01/23

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike consider the absence of hard commitments to fiscal devolution in the UK Government's Devolution White Paper. Was the government right to exclude this? How long can local revenue raising remain off the table for England, with new tourist levies in the Pipeline for Scotland and Wales? What options are available for those seeking to champion this agenda?

en

00:10:33

Is bigger always better for local government...

LED Confidential ·

2025/01/16

In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike discuss the parameters of the upcoming local government reorganisation set out by the UK Government in its Devolution White Paper. They ask: does a target size for English Unitary Authorities of 500k+ make any sense in economic development or placemaking terms? And how can local economic development and placemaking professionals contribute positively to the reorganisation process?

en

00:14:21

Hopes and fears for UK local economic development in...

LED Confidential ·

2024/12/22

Mike and David take to the LEDC crystal ball again as a new year beckons. What will be the key challenges and opportunities at the forefront of UK local economic development and placemaking in 2025? Could it be a year of bold progress for devolution? Will new strategic plans stick, and even if they do, how far can planning reform on its own fix broken housing markets? How far will global turmoil distract and disrupt even the best laid plans…?

en

00:45:18

Creating ‘healthy’ local economies and communities

LED Confidential ·

2024/12/15

David and Mike are joined by Richard Stubbs, CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. They explore how health and economic agendas are co-dependent in creating healthy and prosperous local communities.

en

104 results

Similar Podcasts

The Fly

Georgetown"s Institute of Politics and...

THE CONSTITUTION STUDY

Paul Engel

The DSR Daily

The DSR Network

The Lawfare Podcast

The Lawfare Institute

Fora do Baralho

Rádio Observador