Sign-up here to receive the monthly iED bulletin

Member Area
Log in

Menu

Member Area
Home
/
/
Manifesto

Delivering Good Growth
– help us shape the national discussion

Grow Local, Grow National

Good growth can only be delivered through strong local leadership, practical action and genuine partnership working.
 
To make sure policy and practice reflect what works in real places, the iED has launched the first draft of our 2026 Delivering Good Growth report, as part of a wider piece of work to help shape a national conversation about what growth should deliver for people and places.
 
Our starting point is simple: growth should not be judged by economic output alone. It should also be judged by whether it improves lives, widens opportunity, strengthens communities and supports long-term environmental progress.
 
This is not a final version of the report. Instead, it is the starting point of a bigger piece of work that we would value your input towards. It already includes several member case studies, but further real-world examples and evidence from across the profession will make it even stronger.

Download the report

Download here
We are now inviting members to get involved by sharing examples of:
  • Projects that improved outcomes for residents, businesses or places
  • Evidence of what worked (and what did not)
  • Practical approaches to inclusion, skills, town centres, business support, net zero or community-led development
  • Local data, results or lessons that could help others across the profession.


This is a great opportunity to contribute to an important national discussion, help raise the profile of your work, and make sure the final document reflects the realities of delivery across different places and organisations.

 
If you would like to contribute a case study, insights, or further evidence for consideration in the 2026 Delivering Good Growth report, please join one of our online focus groups. To register, follow the individual links below. These will be taking place via Teams.

Delivering Good Growth focus groups


Please note, that for those focus groups that have already taken place, do please still get in touch with any thoughts on these themes.
 
For any queries, please get in touch with the iED team by emailing admin@ied.co.uk.

1. Devolution

As increasing local devolution moves up the political agenda, and LEP core functions are transferred, it will be essential for local authorities to have in place the models to ensure that local evidence can be gained, effective policies developed and implementation delivered. 

We ask for:

  • A national economic/industrial strategy which sets the agenda for the UK over a five-year period. This could build on the previous Industrial Strategy and the Levelling Up White Paper.
  • A requirement for local authorities to develop an accountable five-year economic strategy/strategic economic plan – led by upper tier authorities but taking into account function economic areas, supported by capacity funding.
  • A single settlement funding pot approach built on “trailblazer” devolution deals.
  • The iED to have a representative seat on the revamped National Industrial Strategy Council.
  • All economic strategies to specifically and consistently focus on fair employment, productivity, access for all, sustainability and satisfaction for residents.
  • A multi-year settlement approach, rather than annual spending reviews.

2. Funding and Pipeline Stability

Underpinning all economic development and associated projects is a requirement for a more stable and long-term funding landscape.

We ask for:

  • An end to the micro competition for capital funding as part of the single settlement funding pot approach, with any funding settlement with government and wider government programmes, such as UKSPF, operating over a longer timeframe and coinciding with a five-year economic strategy horizon.

3. Net Zero

The iED fully supports the mission of the Blueprint Coalition’s Manifesto for Local Climate Action, a core part being recognition of the need for a place-based approach to tackle climate change and move towards net zero.

We ask for:

  • Support for place-based climate action backed by adequate funding and support from national government; commitment to a cross-government department partnership approach with local authorities; commitment to reform and devolve funding streams and embedding climate action in devolution deals.
  • An expansion of a net zero neighbourhood approach, led by local government.
  • Transition funding to enable viability gaps on local net zero schemes to be better overcome.

4. Business Development, Trade and Inward Investment

Growing our businesses, attracting investment into our local areas and supporting exports is a fundamental part of any locality’s economic development remit, helping to increase pay, employment and productivity.

We ask for:

  • Full devolution of UKSPF and associated business development funding.
  • The iED membership body, drawn from both public and private sector, to be used as a sounding board for inward investment planning with government.
  • Continuation of the Growth Hub model, led by upper tier authorities.
  • Multi-year funding streams for business support programmes.
  • Clearly defined and legislatively backed forward programme of infrastructure to give confidence in the ongoing competitiveness of places.

5. Labour Market and Skills Activation

A statutory economic development function would be involved in assessing local skills, key sectors and provide skills intelligence for local skills providers, employers and the workforce. Skills development, workforce assessment and the development of clear pathways into work would be a key element of the economic strategy.

We ask for:

  • Full devolution of 16-18 and 19+ skills and training funding, to local government and/or Mayoral Combined Authorities under the “trailblazer” model, connected directly to the development of local economic strategies in partnership with employers and business.
  • The local authority statutory economic development function to lead on Local Skills Improvement Plans under emerging Business Boards being created during LEP core function transfers.
  • Reform of the Apprenticeship Levy with enhanced flexibility and a clearer link to local benefits for employers.

6. Workforce and CPD

Legal duty for economic development remit would need to be underpinned by an experienced and stable workforce. Under-investment in economic development and funding settlements for local authorities has meant important economic development skills have been lost to the profession and there is a need to rebuild them.

We ask for:

  • Co-investment in a national economic development CPD standard with the iED to support future workforce development and succession planning across the profession.

Sign up for the monthly iED Bulletin

Stay up to date with our latest news, events, bulletin, and new opportunities.