Simon Grove-White
Simon joined CLES in September 2025 having worked in local government for more than 15 years, in roles spanning policy and performance, research and intelligence, regeneration, economic development and community wealth building, including through a community-led CWB partnership called Owned by Oxford. He joins us fresh from leading a project with the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN), looking at how flexibilities in procurement and commissioning can be applied to community wealth building and cooperative placemaking. He has published and presented widely on progressive procurement and community wealth building.
Commenting on his appointment, Simon said:
“I’m thrilled to be joining CLES at a time when more and more people are questioning the economic orthodoxies that have shaped the last 40 years. The time is ripe for fresh thinking, and there’s an urgent need to build new models of economic development and public service delivery that address wealth extraction and are answerable to the needs of people and planet.
“As a trusted partner of local government, with decades of experience rewiring local economies, CLES are uniquely well-positioned support others on this journey, and I can’t wait to get started“.
