News

Five cities, five ‘good’ local economies

We’re helping five UK cities build greater local economic resilience. Here are the Good City Economy plans 2017:

Good City Economies is a joint project by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and the New Economics Foundation, funded by Friends Provident Foundation.

Over the next six months we are working with five UK cities – Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds – to help them embed Good City Economy principles in their places.

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Devolution: Beyond the rhetoric

Ahead of the Autumn Statement announcement on Wednesday 23rd November, CLES has published a six-point think piece entitled ‘Devolution: Beyond the rhetoric’.

This short paper challenges the Government narrative on devolution, and explores the extent of the devolved power deficit in comparison to the vast amounts of new risk and responsibility devolved to local government.

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Third Sector Grants Programme in Salford found to have significant positive impact

The Salford Third Sector Fund Grants Programme is a two year partnership between Salford CVS and Salford CCG. Over the course of the last two years, the programme has provided grant funding to a range of voluntary and community sector organisations and schools in Salford to support activities around health and well-being.

A recent independent evaluation of the programme, undertaken by CLES and partners Voluntary Sector North West, has revealed a significant positive impact, valued at over £11.4m. This is more than seven times the £1.6m awarded by NHS Salford CCG and Salford CVS in grants to 158 Salford voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises plus a consortium of 84 VCSE organisation, during 2014/15 and 2015/16. In addition, 69 Salford Primary Schools have also received funding, as have 13 partnerships between Salford schools and VCSE organisations.

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Centre for Ageing Better commissions CLES to research helping over 50s get back into work in Greater Manchester

The Centre for Ageing Better has commissioned the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) – in partnership with the Learning and Work Institute – to carry out research and co-design work to address worklessness and job insecurity amongst people aged 50 and over in Greater Manchester.  This project is part of a partnership between Ageing Better and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with one of the key aims of supporting people aged 50 and over back into work.

Across Greater Manchester, almost one in three people aged 50-64 are not in work  – and more than a fifth of those who are working are in low paid jobs. Low pay is also a significant economic and social challenge for the region. The research and co-design project will develop and test a new approach to support these people and is part of Ageing Better’s commitment to help more people live good later lives. Being out of work or in low quality work in your 50s is associated with poor health, financial insecurity and social isolation, and impacts negatively on wellbeing.

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Living Wage Week and what should follow

Two years ago, CLES wrote a paper as part of Living Wage Week exploring the key role of local government in addressing low pay. The paper, which featured in the Guardian, explored the role of local government in paying the Living Wage themselves, in addressing low pay through their enabling role, and through cajoling suppliers to provide more effective terms and conditions for their workers, including better pay.

Beyond the domain of local government

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Bringing community wealth to Birmingham

Funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, CLES will be undertaking work in Birmingham over the next 18 months exploring how the power of anchor institutions based in the City can be harnessed for maximum local economic and social benefit.

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What is a good city economy?

A new report reveals the cities at the forefront of a new movement to build neighbourhood wealth and prosperity. The report is a joint project between New Start magazine, Centre for Local Economic Strategies and New Economics Foundation.

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We need a real deal on devolution- new joint SPERI and CLES report

Devolution is not without significant risks and challenges. A new joint paper ‘The Real Deal: Pushing the parameters of devolution deals’ from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) explores the restrictions in the current devolution agenda, and presents ideas for a new settlement to make devolution a force for progressive change.

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Want to develop your community?

If you belong to a community that wants to work towards seeing real economic change in your area, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that the Community Economic Development programme is relaunching. The programme is looking to support 20 groups that want to take a lead in shaping their economies for the benefit of their community.

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Greater Manchester Social Value Network

CLES has been involved in developing the Greater Manchester Social Value Network, the core purpose of which is to influence stakeholders, policy and strategy at the Greater Manchester level around social value.

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