Organisation Membership: Barnsley Council

Barnsley Council, an Organisation Member of the Institute of Economic Development (iED) since 2023, is actively engaged with the Institute – using its membership to widen access to professional development, strengthen connections across the sector, raise the profile of its economic development work, and engage with wider policy and lobbying activity.

Daniel Harper, Head of Economic Development at Barnsley Council, had been an individual member of the iED for many years before the council moved to Organisation Membership. “First and foremost, I’ve been a member of the iED for a long time, so I really value the organisation and I’ve got a lot out of it over the years,” Daniel explained. “Personally, I know the value of the iED and what it brings to the sector.

“One of the main reasons for moving to Organisation Membership was to make those same opportunities available more widely across the council’s economic development service. I was keen for everyone in the service to have access to the platforms that membership provides. Organisation Membership is brilliant in that sense because colleagues can benefit from all the great things the iED does. That was a key driver.”

Training and development have been among the clearest benefits for Barnsley Council. A number of team members have completed the iED Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Economic Development, while others have benefited from shorter learning and development opportunities.

“I know several colleagues who have done the training courses, the Certificate and Advanced Certificate, which have made an impact,” Daniel said. “Then there are the online events that people can attend or join. I see particular value in shorter, accessible learning opportunities that colleagues can fit around their day-to-day responsibilities.”

The iED’s Early Career Network (ECN) has provided another development route for colleagues at the start of their careers, described by Daniel as “a great opportunity for people at the early stage of their careers”.

Barnsley’s Economic Policy Development Officer Dominic Jones, a member of the ECN Steering Group, added: “The network is an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration for me, as it allows me to learn from the best practices and experiences of other economic development professionals across the country.”

Organisation Membership has also helped Barnsley Council raise its profile within the wider economic development profession. The council has engaged with iED policy papers – including most recently Delivering Good Growth – roundtables and thought leadership activity, while colleagues have contributed content showcasing Barnsley’s work and achievements.

“The profile raising for Barnsley has been really good,” Daniel reflected. “Anything that gives us a chance to showcase what Barnsley is doing is great. In addition, the lobbying for economic development to become statutory is really useful. There is a defined role for the Institute in helping national decision-makers understand how economic development supports the delivery of statutory services and wider local priorities.

“We have also achieved recognition through the iED Annual Awards, winning the Team of the Year category in 2025. However, it’s not just the winning – it’s about raising the overall profile of the council.”

The iED Annual Conference has become another important part of the council’s engagement with membership, providing opportunities to hear from influential figures in economic development and public policy, learn from others and build connections across the profession.

“The conference is great and has become a genuine fixture in the calendar,” Daniel stated. “A couple of us attend every year, and we really value the opportunity to hear directly from influential figures in economic development and public policy. The conference calibre of speakers it is attracting is a sign of how things are progressing.

“I have also attended iED Westminster receptions held at the House of Lords, most recently where iED Patron Stephanie Flanders and Chair Tom Stannard spoke. You get a lot of learning from people like that, so that’s really valuable.”

Through the iED, Daniel and his colleagues also have opportunities to connect with economic development professionals across the public and private sectors. “The networking is useful,” he said. “The connections that the Institute gives us with the private sector in this space are useful from a public sector point of view.”

Reflecting on the relationship overall, Daniel concluded: “It’s a fantastic organisation and we get a lot of value out of it. For me, becoming an Organisation Member was a no-brainer – the access to training and events, inputting into policy and so on. I think it’s really good value.”

Case study developed: September 2026