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Time for change: How we can address deep, structural inequalities in our society through locally led economic development
Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal,
17
(4),
454-463
(2024)
Abstract
This paper explores what needs to be done to better address the growing and substantial inequalities in the UK and how the ‘Levelling Up’ policy that seeks to address them could be improved. It argues that a much longer-term vision and a sharper, cross-government focus on fewer challenges is required to make a more tangible impact. Four key findings are identified: a focus on health and education is fundamental for our social and economic prosperity; there is a need for greater devolution of power, with transparent and robust accountability; an open, nationwide knowledge base to share what works and what does not, and the lessons learned from innovative pilots, is required; and a more holistic approach is needed to support businesses and provide them with better-quality support. This paper argues that without these issues being taken into consideration, the lives and well-being of our disadvantaged citizens, our children and our economy will continue to worsen. It concludes that making economic development a statutory function, putting it at the very heart of our public services, is needed to ensure that the levelling up outcome is achieved.
Keywords: economic development; statutory function; levelling up; regional development; devolution; inequalities; left-behind communities; economic growth; regeneration; health; education; towns; cities; regions; local government; councils; public sector; business support; entrepreneurship; start-ups; scale-ups; procurement; social value; funding; mandatory dissemination; single pot; long-term; leadership; focus; citizen’s debate
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Bev Hurley , CBE, MSc, MIH, MIED, has been a board member of the Institute of Economic Development (IED), the UK’s leading independent professional body representing economic development and regeneration practitioners working for local and regional communities, since 2011, and its immediate past Chair for six years. Her leadership transformed the IED into a vibrant and growing community, now with over 1,300 members. Bev is CEO of YTKO Limited, a leading business support practitioner for 20 years in the public sector and in the commercial world for 40 years. YTKO provides start-up, sustainability and scale-up support in the public sector realm and is proud to have created nearly 17,000 jobs for the UK economy, supporting both disadvantaged entrepreneurs and established businesses from all sectors and parts of the UK. YTKO has been honoured with two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for this body of work, delivering a £10.70:£1.00 return on social, financial and economic investment for the public purse. Bev has launched and grown several companies after starting out in social housing and a detour into gold mining, and in addition to her entrepreneurial business career, is an investor, mentor, author, and non-executive director and Chair of a mental health and arts charity.
