Advanced Certificate in Economic Development: Connor Conneely, Senior Economic Development Officer, Torbay Council

Why did you sign up for the Advanced Certificate?

“I signed up for the Advanced Certificate after originally completing my iED Certificate in Economic Development the previous year. I thoroughly enjoyed the Certificate and was able to apply many of my learnings to my current role. As a result, I was eager to complete the Advanced Certificate and deepen my knowledge and expertise in economic development.”

What have been key benefits/impacts of the programme on you and your organisation, or what do you expect them to be in the future?

“The key benefits to me have been broadening and deepening my understanding of economic development, and how the various different modules directly and indirectly impact my current role which predominately focuses on the skills and employment agenda. The training has enabled me to be brought up to speed with the latest industry learning, and this in turn has enabled me to apply this in practice and share my learnings with team members.”

Was there a particular stand-out, highlight, or value add from the Advanced Certificate?

“Thanks to the quality of the training and the personnel delivering there were a number of highlights for me. If I had to pick one, however, it would be the learnings taking from the place-based issues module, highlighting the importance and benefit of understanding your area and its unique story and how that can be utilised for funding and growth.”

What gap does the programme fill from a CPD perspective?

“The Advanced Certificate helped refresh some of my previous learnings and practices. There were also several modules that directly addressed gaps in my learning and experience, most notably stakeholder consultation exercises and bid appraisal / post funding evaluations.”

How does it feel to have completed the Advanced Certificate, and would you recommend it to others?

“It feels fantastic to have completed the Advanced Certificate, highlighting my commitment to continued professional development. As a result, I am now a more skilled economic development practitioner and have new skills and knowledge that will benefit my work and area. I would certainly and already do recommend the training to others. The training the iED provides is invaluable and I am very grateful to all involved.”

Case study developed: January 2025