Join David and Mike as they explore the power of sporting and cultural events to transform places. Discover what it takes to build a positive legacy that outlasts the event itself.  They are joined by guest Michael Owens, co-author of 'Play the Game' - the insiders' account of how the London 2012 Olympics transformed the Lower Lea Valley.  The stakes are high, the action is intense and the journey is full of twists and turns.  This is LED Confidential - the podcast that delves into the untold stories behind local economic development and placemaking.  

Will the controversial reveal of Levelling Up Fund Round 2 awards prove to be the tipping point in the UK government’s approach to funding LED? What does the draft devolution deal for North East England and the emerging 'trailblazers' for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands mean for those areas, and the rest of the country? And does the Convention of The North signal a new phase in pan-regional working? Join David and Mike for a thought-provoking review of the month that just was in UK local economic development and placemaking.

David and Mike review the UK's tumultuous year in placemaking, from the launch of the Levelling Up White Paper to the introduction of the AI bot, ChatGPT. Join them on a journey through political mayhem, inflation, and tortured funding models; to devolution, and the promise of Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Is local economic development in the UK now a hostage to the fortunes of a UK government in turmoil? Can devolution save us from bad policies and dysfunction at the centre? And what are the prospects for existing and potentially new devolution arrangements under the Truss government? Join David, Mike and guest Andy Pike of Newcastle University as they discuss: can decentralising power address UK-level failures in policy and governance?

What should be the big ticket items in Liz Truss's local economic development and 'Levelling Up' in-trays? What roles can long-term strategies play for places battling the latest economic crises? And are there any reasons to be optimistic for the future of LED in the UK following the formation of its new government? Join David, Mike and guest Julia Goldsworthy as they discuss: where now for economic development in the age of Truss?

Do government funding programmes raise the ambition of places or divert them from the changes they really need? Do they raise standards or impose a place-blind uniformity on local economic development? Might reform of public funding unleash potential in places or do local leaders always make the system work for their priorities? David and Mike discuss with Sandra Rothwell, Managing Director of LED consultancy ROTHWELL and formerly CEO of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. 

What does great political leadership look like in local economic development? How can places cope if it's poor or inconsistent? Do national political priorities always trump local ones? David and Mike discuss with Jonathan Carr-West, CEO of Britain's Local Government Information Unit.

Is there a universal formula for success as an economic development organisation? Is big always beautiful? Or is small and nimble the way to go when setting one up? Do they work best when forced to compete or encouraged to work together? David and Mike discuss with guest Tom Stannard, CEO of Salford City Council, UK. 

What makes a city, town or village distinctive? What kind of stories do places need to tell about themselves to achieve their goals? And what role should data play in forming them? David, Mike and guest Bec Riley of City-REDI at the University of Birmingham (UK) discuss what makes a place in the minds of investors, central government, local leaders, residents and employers.

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.