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Ahead of our Annual Conference & Awards Dinner on 25th November, we met Simon Dancer, Director at AMION Consulting. AMION is an Engagement Partner at the iED Annual Conference 2025.
Thank you for your partnership this year. Why have you decided to get on board with the iED?
“The iED plays a vital role in promoting excellence across the economic development profession. AMION has always shared that mission, so the partnership feels like a natural fit. As I moonlight as an iED Board Member, I have seen first-hand how the iED brings together local authorities, consultants, academics and policymakers in a shared effort to strengthen our practice and our profession. At AMION, we see that purpose reflected in our own work. In Great Yarmouth, for example, we helped the Council secure more than £54 million from the Towns Fund, Future High Streets Fund and Levelling Up Fund, investment that is reshaping the town centre, attracting new energy and opportunities, and strengthening local identity. And no, sadly, we did not manage to add a seaside pier to the bid!”
The title of this year’s conference is Good Growth: Driving the UK economy with investment in our regions and communities. What does that mean to you/AMION?
“For me, good growth is about ensuring that investment creates lasting value, economically, socially and environmentally. Back in my Whitehall days, I saw how regeneration was often judged by the size of the spend rather than the scale of the impact. True good growth goes beyond that; it is about improving opportunities and life chances, not just reshaping the built environment. Our evaluation of Liverpool’s Eurovision 2023 showed how a cultural event can deliver significant economic benefit while building pride, social connection and a renewed global profile for the city. Similarly, our work for Bradford 2025 is helping ensure that its City of Culture year delivers a legacy that is both inclusive and enduring. Good growth happens when creativity is backed by evidence and when decisions are made with a clear understanding of their long-term impact. That principle has underpinned AMION’s approach for 25 years and continues to guide everything we do.”
What aspects of the conference, and awards evening, are you especially looking forward to?
“The iED Annual Conference is one of the most thought-provoking events in the economic development calendar, and I promise I am not just saying that because I am on the Board. I am particularly looking forward to the discussions on New Towns (especially those on the margins of the conference), which feel especially relevant as many areas look again at how to plan, finance and deliver sustainable growth at scale. It is also a great opportunity to reconnect with peers, share experiences and hopefully come away with a few new ideas to put into action. And of course, as any conference veteran knows, the iED Annual Awards evening is the crown jewel. It is a chance to celebrate the creativity and dedication of people across the sector who are making a tangible difference. Conferences can sometimes be all PowerPoint and pastries, but the iED one is genuinely different. The event is an open space for exchanging ideas and learning from peers who are grappling with the same challenges: LGR, net zero…and land value uplift! For us, it is an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of helping places adapt and to consider how we can support the next generation of change. What excites us most is that the conference goes beyond showcasing projects. It is about advancing thinking and evaluation.”
What do you think the next 12-18 months holds for economic development professionals?
“The year ahead will bring both challenge and opportunity, but probably a little more of the former. The fiscal background remains difficult, and that will likely be reinforced in November’s Budget. Against that context, the role of economic development professionals will be more important than ever. When I was back at the ranch in central government, some HM Treasury officials were reluctant to back regeneration because it was seen as too risky, with returns that were too long term. Challenging that mindset will be especially important, and especially difficult, when money is already tight. There will be greater emphasis on evidence-based decision making and integrating social and environmental outcomes alongside economic ones (see also the new Green Book).”
What services does AMION provide that may be able to help them in their work?
“Well, without giving away all our secrets, AMION provides a full range of services across economic development, regeneration and evaluation. Our expertise extends across transport, higher education, cultural investment and clean energy. I am proud that our research for Homes England has helped embed design quality and community benefit into national business case methodologies. Equally, our work for UK Atomic Energy Authority’s STEP programme demonstrated how one of the UK’s most ambitious energy projects could create opportunities for communities as well as drive innovation and sustainability. And our studies for the University of Liverpool have shown how higher education institutions act as anchors for local economies, supporting research, enterprise and civic engagement. It reflects our strength in making the invisible visible.”
AMION has developed a reputation for securing funding success. How has that been achieved?
“The key lies in combining rigorous economics with a practical understanding of what funders require. In the most recent round of the Levelling Up Fund, our support helped secure £489 million nationally. Wolverhampton, Manchester and Wigan were among the places to benefit, with projects that will regenerate town centres, stimulate green innovation, and create new opportunities. It shows that careful preparation and compelling evidence can open doors even in a highly competitive environment. Our focus has always been on helping places turn ambition into reality. I have mentioned our work in Liverpool, which provided a £55 million boost to the City Region economy. Another example is Pembrokeshire, where our analysis supported regeneration proposals designed to bring vitality back to a historic market town.”
You have also mentioned the importance of research. Could you expand on that?
“Research has always been a cornerstone of AMION’s work. With Homes England, we have led studies into housing-led regeneration, including a landmark assessment of the design and placemaking benefits of investment. That research has since been embedded in the government’s Appraisal Guide, ensuring that design quality and long-term community benefit are given proper weight in national business cases. We are also proud to have authored the Additionality Guide. This work set new international standards for evaluating the real impact of public interventions, and more than two decades later it remains a touchstone for funders and policymakers worldwide. Its influence is proof that research, when applied well, can shape practice far beyond individual projects.”
AMION is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. What does that mean for the firm?
“Reaching 25 years is a bit like watching a child grow up: you suddenly realise how quickly the time has passed, and then start listing all the things you have achieved, though for us it is more business cases than baby pictures! Since 2000, AMION has grown from a small specialist outfit into a national consultancy working across regeneration, housing, culture and transport. We have also been privileged to support some of the UK’s most ambitious projects and, uniquely, have been part of Homes England’s Strategic Research, Economics and Evaluation Framework for that entire period. That longevity has made us not just a partner but a constant in national regeneration.”
Related reading: Reflections on my first year in economic development.
Tickets for the iED Annual Conference & Awards Dinner 2025 in Manchester are available to iED members and non-members here.
