What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth launches

A ground-breaking new project that will analyse and showcase the policies that can help to drive local economic growth has launched today.

The What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth is a partnership between Arup, London School of Economics and Political Science and Centre for Cities. Arup will lead on evidence gathering and synthesis, using its Planning Policy and Economics team’s significant expertise in evaluation, best practice review and project management.

The What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth will put evaluations of the policies that matter to growth – skills, regeneration, housing and employment – under the spotlight to give local decision makers the evidence they need to decide what policies are most effective and where. It will also work with local partners to set up a series of demonstrator projects to show how effective evaluation can work in practice.

The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Kris Hopkins, Minister for Local Growth, Michael Fallon, Minister for Business and Joanna Killian, Chief Executive of Essex County Council all attended the launch event.

“It is important that our local growth policies have maximum impact as we continue to rebalance the economy and shift away from an over-reliance on London and the southeast. The What Works Local Growth Centre will provide Government with a robust evidence base from which to design effective policy.”

— Michael Fallon, Minister for Business Minister

“In order to make informed investments, our clients in Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Authorities must be able to draw on clear and concise evidence to underpin their recommendations. Arup’s team of economic planning consultants are dedicated to delivering economic growth and regeneration and so we are delighted to have the opportunity to evaluate and help shape that evidence base.”

— Jerome Frost OBE, Director and UKMEA Consulting Practice Leader, Arup

For more information about the work of the Centre please visit www.whatworksgrowth.org or follow on twitter @WhatWorksGrowth.