What Works Growth
@whatworksgrowth.bsky.social
The What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth provides evidence on #WhatWorks to drive local economic growth.
Partners: @cep-lse.bsky.social, @centreforcities.bsky.social
Partners: @cep-lse.bsky.social, @centreforcities.bsky.social
Skills matter for productivity, yet the data landscape can feel overwhelming.
Our latest blog explains a simple framework to make sense of local skills demand and supply.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/F9y9OP3
Our latest blog explains a simple framework to make sense of local skills demand and supply.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/F9y9OP3
Understanding local skills performance requires more than just data - What Works Growth
Skills are an important driver of local productivity.
buff.ly
November 17, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Skills matter for productivity, yet the data landscape can feel overwhelming.
Our latest blog explains a simple framework to make sense of local skills demand and supply.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/F9y9OP3
Our latest blog explains a simple framework to make sense of local skills demand and supply.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/F9y9OP3
Competition is an important driver of productivity as it can push businesses to become more efficient, innovative and productive.
But local government should think carefully about how to intervene.
Check out the latest blog👇
buff.ly/v2UFZ3N
But local government should think carefully about how to intervene.
Check out the latest blog👇
buff.ly/v2UFZ3N
Understanding the drivers of productivity: Enterprise and competition - What Works Growth
This blog focuses on enterprise and competition, and complements the blogs on GVA and productivity published in summer 2024.
buff.ly
October 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Competition is an important driver of productivity as it can push businesses to become more efficient, innovative and productive.
But local government should think carefully about how to intervene.
Check out the latest blog👇
buff.ly/v2UFZ3N
But local government should think carefully about how to intervene.
Check out the latest blog👇
buff.ly/v2UFZ3N
In September the government published the last of eight sector plans in the industrial strategy, covering defence.
Our new blog gives suggestions for how places can think through support to local businesses in responding to these plans👇
buff.ly/qR0b8yL
Our new blog gives suggestions for how places can think through support to local businesses in responding to these plans👇
buff.ly/qR0b8yL
Local opportunities in the Defence Industrial Strategy - What Works Growth
In September the government published the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025. This is the last of eight sector plans in the national Industrial Strategy, alongside Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy…
buff.ly
October 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
In September the government published the last of eight sector plans in the industrial strategy, covering defence.
Our new blog gives suggestions for how places can think through support to local businesses in responding to these plans👇
buff.ly/qR0b8yL
Our new blog gives suggestions for how places can think through support to local businesses in responding to these plans👇
buff.ly/qR0b8yL
Capital is an important driver of productivity 📈
If businesses want to improve productivity, they might invest in new machinery to speed up production, or new software to tackle more complex and higher value tasks 💰
Read in full 👇
buff.ly/R7oZVrz
If businesses want to improve productivity, they might invest in new machinery to speed up production, or new software to tackle more complex and higher value tasks 💰
Read in full 👇
buff.ly/R7oZVrz
Understanding the drivers of productivity: Capital - What Works Growth
The drivers of productivity include skills, capital, innovation, enterprise and competition, and land. This blog focuses on capital.
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Capital is an important driver of productivity 📈
If businesses want to improve productivity, they might invest in new machinery to speed up production, or new software to tackle more complex and higher value tasks 💰
Read in full 👇
buff.ly/R7oZVrz
If businesses want to improve productivity, they might invest in new machinery to speed up production, or new software to tackle more complex and higher value tasks 💰
Read in full 👇
buff.ly/R7oZVrz
In the first blog in our new series we provide an overview of skills and local growth—looking at policy levers available, things to consider, and useful resources.
This is a great primer to understanding how skills affect local growth and productivity👇
buff.ly/A99kPQ3
This is a great primer to understanding how skills affect local growth and productivity👇
buff.ly/A99kPQ3
Understanding the drivers of productivity: Skills - What Works Growth
This blog is the first in our new series on the drivers of productivity, including include skills, investment, innovatio and enterprise.
buff.ly
September 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In the first blog in our new series we provide an overview of skills and local growth—looking at policy levers available, things to consider, and useful resources.
This is a great primer to understanding how skills affect local growth and productivity👇
buff.ly/A99kPQ3
This is a great primer to understanding how skills affect local growth and productivity👇
buff.ly/A99kPQ3
With more flights than ever taking off from the UK, airport expansion is a hot topic ✈️
But what might expansion mean for local growth in the areas around airports? Our new blog discusses some of the issues to consider👇
buff.ly/GSYeoO6
But what might expansion mean for local growth in the areas around airports? Our new blog discusses some of the issues to consider👇
buff.ly/GSYeoO6
Can expanding airports help local growth take off? - What Works Growth
August means airports, and now that air travel has rebounded from the lows during the Covid-19 pandemic to reach levels where globally there are more flights than ever, airports face bigger and…
buff.ly
August 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
With more flights than ever taking off from the UK, airport expansion is a hot topic ✈️
But what might expansion mean for local growth in the areas around airports? Our new blog discusses some of the issues to consider👇
buff.ly/GSYeoO6
But what might expansion mean for local growth in the areas around airports? Our new blog discusses some of the issues to consider👇
buff.ly/GSYeoO6
Local Growth Plans are a key part of the government’s growth strategy.
Devolution will need to generate jobs, investment and economic activity more than the sum of their parts – multipliers can help assess these wider benefits.
Read how in our new blog👇
whatworksgrowth.org/insights/mul...
Devolution will need to generate jobs, investment and economic activity more than the sum of their parts – multipliers can help assess these wider benefits.
Read how in our new blog👇
whatworksgrowth.org/insights/mul...
Multiplying the benefits of Local Growth Plans - What Works Growth
Last month the government published new guidance for Mayoral Strategic Authorities on Local Growth Plans. These are a key foundation of the new Industrial Strategy and the government’s ambitions for d...
whatworksgrowth.org
July 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Local Growth Plans are a key part of the government’s growth strategy.
Devolution will need to generate jobs, investment and economic activity more than the sum of their parts – multipliers can help assess these wider benefits.
Read how in our new blog👇
whatworksgrowth.org/insights/mul...
Devolution will need to generate jobs, investment and economic activity more than the sum of their parts – multipliers can help assess these wider benefits.
Read how in our new blog👇
whatworksgrowth.org/insights/mul...
Enterprise zones 🎙️🎧
Deputy Director of Evidence Victoria Sutherland features on @centreforcities.bsky.social podcast to discuss our recent rapid evidence review on Enterprise Zones.
Listen to the podcast👇
Deputy Director of Evidence Victoria Sutherland features on @centreforcities.bsky.social podcast to discuss our recent rapid evidence review on Enterprise Zones.
Listen to the podcast👇
City Minutes: Enterprise Zones - Centre for Cities
Chief Executive Andrew Carter is joined by Victoria Sutherland, Deputy Director of Evidence at the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth to discuss their recent rapid evidence review on…
buff.ly
July 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Enterprise zones 🎙️🎧
Deputy Director of Evidence Victoria Sutherland features on @centreforcities.bsky.social podcast to discuss our recent rapid evidence review on Enterprise Zones.
Listen to the podcast👇
Deputy Director of Evidence Victoria Sutherland features on @centreforcities.bsky.social podcast to discuss our recent rapid evidence review on Enterprise Zones.
Listen to the podcast👇
🆕 Rapid evidence review: Local multiplier effects of changes in public spending
We’ve published a new briefing on the local multiplier effects of changes in public spending.
Read in full 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/wp-content/u...
We’ve published a new briefing on the local multiplier effects of changes in public spending.
Read in full 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/wp-content/u...
July 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🆕 Rapid evidence review: Local multiplier effects of changes in public spending
We’ve published a new briefing on the local multiplier effects of changes in public spending.
Read in full 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/wp-content/u...
We’ve published a new briefing on the local multiplier effects of changes in public spending.
Read in full 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/wp-content/u...
📍The IS-8 might not be right for your place
Local economies are not all the same, and economic strategy should never be a cookie cutter approach.
Read the blog 👇
Local economies are not all the same, and economic strategy should never be a cookie cutter approach.
Read the blog 👇
The IS-8 might not be right for your place - What Works Growth
Local economies are not all the same, and economic strategy should never be a cookie cutter approach.
buff.ly
June 27, 2025 at 11:05 AM
📍The IS-8 might not be right for your place
Local economies are not all the same, and economic strategy should never be a cookie cutter approach.
Read the blog 👇
Local economies are not all the same, and economic strategy should never be a cookie cutter approach.
Read the blog 👇
✍️ Linking Appraisal and Evaluation: Lessons for Smarter Public Spending
In this guest blog Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA, highlights the link between appraisal and evaluation.
Read now👇
In this guest blog Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA, highlights the link between appraisal and evaluation.
Read now👇
Linking Appraisal and Evaluation: Lessons for Smarter Public Spending - What Works Growth
UK local and combined authorities are being asked not just to justify investments but to demonstrate their impact.
buff.ly
June 17, 2025 at 9:38 AM
✍️ Linking Appraisal and Evaluation: Lessons for Smarter Public Spending
In this guest blog Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA, highlights the link between appraisal and evaluation.
Read now👇
In this guest blog Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA, highlights the link between appraisal and evaluation.
Read now👇
Designing and carrying out impact evaluation can be intimidating for policymakers.
Don’t be afraid of asking for help and support at any step of the process.
Read our new blog on the ninth step to better evaluation - Ask for help 👇
Don’t be afraid of asking for help and support at any step of the process.
Read our new blog on the ninth step to better evaluation - Ask for help 👇
How to evaluate – Ask for help - What Works Growth
Evidence-based policy is at the heart of good practices in policymaking. Impact evaluation provides a key source of evidence to help understand what really works and we need more impact evaluation of…
buff.ly
June 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Designing and carrying out impact evaluation can be intimidating for policymakers.
Don’t be afraid of asking for help and support at any step of the process.
Read our new blog on the ninth step to better evaluation - Ask for help 👇
Don’t be afraid of asking for help and support at any step of the process.
Read our new blog on the ninth step to better evaluation - Ask for help 👇
📌Are we too harsh on enterprise zones?
"We’ve been sceptical about the value of these programmes but if central government chooses to use these approaches, it makes sense for local areas to bid."
Read our latest blog for more👇
buff.ly/i8rcOYd
"We’ve been sceptical about the value of these programmes but if central government chooses to use these approaches, it makes sense for local areas to bid."
Read our latest blog for more👇
buff.ly/i8rcOYd
May 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
📌Are we too harsh on enterprise zones?
"We’ve been sceptical about the value of these programmes but if central government chooses to use these approaches, it makes sense for local areas to bid."
Read our latest blog for more👇
buff.ly/i8rcOYd
"We’ve been sceptical about the value of these programmes but if central government chooses to use these approaches, it makes sense for local areas to bid."
Read our latest blog for more👇
buff.ly/i8rcOYd
📢 Government will move thousands of civil service roles out of London, including opening new offices in Manchester focused on digital innovation, and in Aberdeen focused on energy.
May 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
📢 Government will move thousands of civil service roles out of London, including opening new offices in Manchester focused on digital innovation, and in Aberdeen focused on energy.
In the 2010s, the UK government announced 48 Enterprise Zones (EZs) offering five-year rebates on business rates, simplified planning regulations, access to superfast broadband, and (in some cases) tax relief on plant and machinery investments.
buff.ly/XChupdH
buff.ly/XChupdH
Evidence topic: Area based initiatives - What Works Growth
Original evidence reviews published in January 2016. Updated evidence review on enterprise zones published May 2025. Area based initiatives can have positive impacts on local growth outcomes, but…
buff.ly
May 8, 2025 at 10:35 AM
In the 2010s, the UK government announced 48 Enterprise Zones (EZs) offering five-year rebates on business rates, simplified planning regulations, access to superfast broadband, and (in some cases) tax relief on plant and machinery investments.
buff.ly/XChupdH
buff.ly/XChupdH
✍️Learning from what works: using the Government’s new evaluation registry
Recently, the Evaluation Task Force within the Cabinet Office launched the evaluation registry with info on over 1400 evaluations conducted across UK government.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/YtyBd29
Recently, the Evaluation Task Force within the Cabinet Office launched the evaluation registry with info on over 1400 evaluations conducted across UK government.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/YtyBd29
April 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
✍️Learning from what works: using the Government’s new evaluation registry
Recently, the Evaluation Task Force within the Cabinet Office launched the evaluation registry with info on over 1400 evaluations conducted across UK government.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/YtyBd29
Recently, the Evaluation Task Force within the Cabinet Office launched the evaluation registry with info on over 1400 evaluations conducted across UK government.
Find out more👇
buff.ly/YtyBd29
📢 Government passed emergency legislation over the weekend to prevent the shutdown of the steelworks.
But what can policymakers do when large job losses are unavoidable?
Out toolkit look at how local policy makers can best support those out of work👇
But what can policymakers do when large job losses are unavoidable?
Out toolkit look at how local policy makers can best support those out of work👇
Responding to major job losses toolkit - What Works Growth
When faced with major job losses in a single area, how can local policy makers best support those left out of work? What kind of support is provided to workers affected by major job losses? Major job…
buff.ly
April 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
📢 Government passed emergency legislation over the weekend to prevent the shutdown of the steelworks.
But what can policymakers do when large job losses are unavoidable?
Out toolkit look at how local policy makers can best support those out of work👇
But what can policymakers do when large job losses are unavoidable?
Out toolkit look at how local policy makers can best support those out of work👇
Want to know more?
Our Innovation Toolkit on supporting university spin-offs summarises the available empirical evidence on two key decisions that can affect the number and performance of university spin-offs 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/resource-lib...
Our Innovation Toolkit on supporting university spin-offs summarises the available empirical evidence on two key decisions that can affect the number and performance of university spin-offs 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/resource-lib...
April 10, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Want to know more?
Our Innovation Toolkit on supporting university spin-offs summarises the available empirical evidence on two key decisions that can affect the number and performance of university spin-offs 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/resource-lib...
Our Innovation Toolkit on supporting university spin-offs summarises the available empirical evidence on two key decisions that can affect the number and performance of university spin-offs 👇
whatworksgrowth.org/resource-lib...
BLOG | Recommendations for the evaluation of local growth policies ✍️
6️⃣ common lessons from our evaluations that we hope can make the process easier for others👇
6️⃣ common lessons from our evaluations that we hope can make the process easier for others👇
Recommendations for the evaluation of local growth policies - What Works Growth
We outline lessons and recommendations for the evaluation of local growth policies drawing on a number of evaluations over the years.
buff.ly
April 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
BLOG | Recommendations for the evaluation of local growth policies ✍️
6️⃣ common lessons from our evaluations that we hope can make the process easier for others👇
6️⃣ common lessons from our evaluations that we hope can make the process easier for others👇
📌BLOG | We don’t have enough impact evaluations around local growth policies, but that can change.
Our Head of Outreach, @meganstreb.bsky.social, uses our newest publication to remind us that robust evaluation can be done in the UK.
See the blog👇
buff.ly/hqNpMha
Our Head of Outreach, @meganstreb.bsky.social, uses our newest publication to remind us that robust evaluation can be done in the UK.
See the blog👇
buff.ly/hqNpMha
What works for what works evaluations: Lessons and recommendations - What Works Growth
Our new publication, Lessons and recommendations from What Works Growth’s evaluations of local growth policies, draws on a number of evaluations that What Works Growth has carried out over the years.
buff.ly
March 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
📌BLOG | We don’t have enough impact evaluations around local growth policies, but that can change.
Our Head of Outreach, @meganstreb.bsky.social, uses our newest publication to remind us that robust evaluation can be done in the UK.
See the blog👇
buff.ly/hqNpMha
Our Head of Outreach, @meganstreb.bsky.social, uses our newest publication to remind us that robust evaluation can be done in the UK.
See the blog👇
buff.ly/hqNpMha
Rigorous evaluation plays a key role in understanding the effectiveness of local growth policies.
We aim to make impact evaluation easier for policymakers by providing advice and support.
Our new briefing outlines lessons and recommendations from our evaluations 👇
1/6
We aim to make impact evaluation easier for policymakers by providing advice and support.
Our new briefing outlines lessons and recommendations from our evaluations 👇
1/6
March 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Rigorous evaluation plays a key role in understanding the effectiveness of local growth policies.
We aim to make impact evaluation easier for policymakers by providing advice and support.
Our new briefing outlines lessons and recommendations from our evaluations 👇
1/6
We aim to make impact evaluation easier for policymakers by providing advice and support.
Our new briefing outlines lessons and recommendations from our evaluations 👇
1/6
Moving public agencies out of London was a major plank of the levelling-up agenda
The effects on local economies seem smaller than hoped and it’s important to compare them with those of other tools of regional policy.
Read the full blog 👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
The effects on local economies seem smaller than hoped and it’s important to compare them with those of other tools of regional policy.
Read the full blog 👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
Do cities and regions gain from public sector relocation? - What Works Growth
In this guest blog, Dr. Max Nathan, Henry Overman, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC (partial) relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area. This bl...
loom.ly
March 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Moving public agencies out of London was a major plank of the levelling-up agenda
The effects on local economies seem smaller than hoped and it’s important to compare them with those of other tools of regional policy.
Read the full blog 👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
The effects on local economies seem smaller than hoped and it’s important to compare them with those of other tools of regional policy.
Read the full blog 👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
📌 Why Industrial Strategy shouldn’t be aiming to make everywhere equally successful
In this blog, @paulswinney.bsky.social, sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.
Read now 👇
loom.ly/o-GBm_s
In this blog, @paulswinney.bsky.social, sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.
Read now 👇
loom.ly/o-GBm_s
Why Industrial Strategy shouldn’t be aiming to make everywhere equally successful - What Works Growth
In this guest blog, Paul Swinney sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.
loom.ly
March 13, 2025 at 10:38 AM
📌 Why Industrial Strategy shouldn’t be aiming to make everywhere equally successful
In this blog, @paulswinney.bsky.social, sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.
Read now 👇
loom.ly/o-GBm_s
In this blog, @paulswinney.bsky.social, sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.
Read now 👇
loom.ly/o-GBm_s
BLOG | Do cities and regions gain from public sector relocation?
In this guest blog, @maxnathan.bsky.social, @henryoverman.bsky.social, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area.
Read more👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
In this guest blog, @maxnathan.bsky.social, @henryoverman.bsky.social, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area.
Read more👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
Do cities and regions gain from public sector relocation? - What Works Growth
In this guest blog, Dr. Max Nathan, Henry Overman, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC (partial) relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area. This bl...
loom.ly
February 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
BLOG | Do cities and regions gain from public sector relocation?
In this guest blog, @maxnathan.bsky.social, @henryoverman.bsky.social, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area.
Read more👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
In this guest blog, @maxnathan.bsky.social, @henryoverman.bsky.social, Capucine Riom, and Maria Sanchez-Vidal set out evidence on the impact of BBC relocation to Salford on wider employment in the area.
Read more👇
loom.ly/hbBF_Xk
The new National Procurement Policy Statement comes into effect today.
It outlines how contracting authorities – including local governments – should use procurement as a policy lever to pursue outcomes on strategic priorities, including local growth.
🔗 loom.ly/Xk1_VMA
It outlines how contracting authorities – including local governments – should use procurement as a policy lever to pursue outcomes on strategic priorities, including local growth.
🔗 loom.ly/Xk1_VMA
National Procurement Policy Statement
This NPPS sets out strategic priorities for public procurement and how contracting authorities can support their delivery, and will come into effect 24 February 2025.
loom.ly
February 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The new National Procurement Policy Statement comes into effect today.
It outlines how contracting authorities – including local governments – should use procurement as a policy lever to pursue outcomes on strategic priorities, including local growth.
🔗 loom.ly/Xk1_VMA
It outlines how contracting authorities – including local governments – should use procurement as a policy lever to pursue outcomes on strategic priorities, including local growth.
🔗 loom.ly/Xk1_VMA