Career development, knowledge and skills for economic developers

Expert knowledge, proven frameworks, handbooks, and practical tools for local authority officers, consultants, and practitioners delivering local and regional economic development strategies, delivery, and initiatives. Built from 32 years of working in the field

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Hard copy: The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook

The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook - hard copies

Buy a paperback (£39.99) or Hardback (£49.99) copy of the comprehensive 500-page handbook for Local and Regional Economic Development (*all access pass members can get this book for £22)
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Ebook version of The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook

The ebook version of the comprehensive 500-page handbook for Local and Regional Economic Development - buy now for £20 (* all access pass members can get this ebook for £10)

Foundation Course in Local and Regional Economic Development

This 2.5-hour course introduces local and regional economic development, its rationale, themes, main delivery activities, and challenges. It is suitable for people new to the profession, or elected representatives who wish to improve their knowledge.

Introduction to Local and Regional Economic Development [ED Academy]

A free 1 hour introductory course to the ED Academy suite of CPD courses. This course covers the rationale, princples and functions of local and regional economic development, and the global megatrends that various localities and regions deal with. Part of the ED Academy Course Programme.

Courses for Early Career Economic Development Professionals

The ED Academy Courses offer over 12 hours of taught courses on video with reference materials, assignments and workbooks. They are split into Introduction to ED; Policy, Strategy and Intelligence; Enterprise, Industry and Innovation; Employment, Labour Markets, Inclusion, Poverty and Inequality; Place and Climate Change; and Management and Practice.

Workbooks That Help You Apply 10 Key Aspects of The Handbook

These free workbooks can be used in conjunction with The Local and Regional Economic Development Handbook. Just register as a user (which is free) to get access which will allow you to download them.

About Glenn Athey

Glenn is an expert in local and regional economic development with 32 years of experience that includes practice, senior executive roles, and research. View Glenn's profile on Linkedin

News and views

Blog article highlights

We've Been looking at Economic Development the Wrong Way

We may be solving the wrong problems because we’re working from the wrong assumptions. Specifically, we’ve absorbed a set of ideas about what economic development looks like in a “developed” nation – assumptions about mature markets, functioning institutions, and broadly capable populations... [CLICK ON IMAGE OR TITLE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE]

I've Watched Capable People Who are New to Economic Development Struggle

Not because they weren’t smart. Not because they didn’t work hard. But because nobody had ever explained to them what economic development actually is. What is the mission? What is the function? What are the dilemmas you’ll face when public purpose and private interest pull in different directions? How do you make choices?... [CLICK ON IMAGE OR TITLE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE]

Glenn discusses the handbook with Dane Carlson on the EconDevShow Podcast

Glenn discusses the handbook with Dane Carlson on the EconDevShow Podcast. We discuss, the need, motivations and benefits of reading the handbook and how it can help economic development professioans... [CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR TITLE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE]