What we offer

We have a national reputation for practical and hard hitting research on the realities of place.  We use our deep expertise and bespoke tools to generate evidence, ideas and solutions that support stronger, more inclusive local economies.

High quality research which provides bold and visionary solutions to the challenges of our time is at the heart of our charitable mission to help inform, educate and shift the dial on place-based challenges of our time including poverty, environmental breakdown, wealth extraction and high street decline.

We work with organisations to undertake a range of research approaches including:

Wealth and income analysis: improving our understanding of local, regional and national wealth retention and ownership.

Economic data analysis: revealing key social and economic trends about your place, locally, regionally and nationally.

Community research: and organising supporting your community to undertake research about the places you call home.

Social economy analysis: quantifying the economic contribution of the social economy in your area using CLES’s bespoke methodology.

Evaluation of programmes and projects: we can help you evaluate the impact and delivery of your work retrospectively or to help you establish a robust evaluation framework as your initiative begins.

Extraction analysis: mapping local and overseas business ownership alongside profits and dividend data to understand wealth extraction.

Qualitative research: we undertake in depth interviews, focus groups and case study analysis to better understand the why and how of human behaviour, ownership, governance and wealth inequalities.

Here are just a few recent examples:

The impact of good employment on productivity and profitability in Greater Manchester  

What difference, if any, does good employment practice make? We examined the the link between good employment practices, productivity, and profitability across the region and found a link between good employment and businesses’ bottom line. Using a combination of statistical modelling and in-depth interviews, we found a link between good employment and businesses’ bottom line. Read the report here which was featured in local media.

Tackling health inequalities through English devolution 

In partnership with The King’s Fund, CLES has examined how effectively devolution is addressing health inequalities in England. Through interviews, discussion groups, and case study development, we have been gathering insights and producing recommendations for local, sub-regional, and national policymakers. This has resulted in a series of publications.

Women’s work

CLES and the Women’s Budget Group explored how gender inclusion can strengthen local economies, using Leeds as a case study. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining statistical modelling, in-depth interviews, and policy analysis. You can access the full report here.

We help places develop strategies that drive economic, social and climate justice – turning bold ideas into systems change.  This is about working with you to develop bespoke strategies which help you build a more inclusive economy through:

Strategic workshop facilitation: we have a team of skilled facilitators who can work with you and your key stakeholders to help you identify the key priorities and opportunities for the future.

Economic data analysis: revealing key social and economic trends about your place, locally, regionally and nationally to help inform your future strategy.

Strategy development and dissemination: working with you to develop the key components of your strategy, translating key findings into deliverable recommendations and actions for the future.

Here are just a handful of recent examples of the strategies we have developed:

Powering up the North West

CLES partnered with the North West Regional Leaders Board to develop a strategic “ask and offer” document for the UK Government. Drawing on policy analysis, case studies, and discussion groups with mayors and council leaders, we identified seven key policy reforms designed to help the North West build more inclusive, sustainable, and health-creating local economies. The strategy was presented to UK Government ministers in March 2025. You can access the full document here.

Newcastle Inclusive Economic Strategy 

CLES developed a new economic strategy for Newcastle City Council. With a strong emphasis on ensuring wealth benefits all people and communities, we combined economic baseline analysis, spatial mapping, and stakeholder engagement with our expertise in community wealth building. The result is a city-wide, action-focused strategy aimed at creating a more inclusive, green, and sustainable economy. The final strategy document is available on the council’s website.

Powering up the planning system 

Working with Islington Council, CLES conducted policy and document analysis, case studies, and expert consultations to produce a strategic report aimed at empowering planning authorities to take a bold stance and ensure developers deliver greater value for local communities. The report contains two sets of recommendations: one for planning authorities seeking to implement these practical approaches, and another for government to create the conditions that enable authorities to go further and achieve better outcomes. The final report is available here.

As the UK’s leading organisation for community wealth building (which you can read more about here), we work with places across the UK to increase the flow, circulation and democratic ownership of wealth.

We help areas to think about how they can apply and deliver community wealth building to build more inclusive economies using a range of approaches including:

Following the money: CLES’ bespoke methodology for spend analysis can help your organisation to better understand how your money is circulating in the local economy and addressing the key place-based challenges such as employment, skills and business support.

Extraction analysis: mapping local and overseas business ownership alongside profits and dividend data to understand wealth extraction – for example in key sectors like care.

Building and developing your anchor network: we can help you to develop an anchor network for your place which will enable you to coordinate and deliver community wealth building at scale.

CLES community wealth building diagnostic and action planning: If you want to develop a community wealth building approach in your area but are not sure where to start – our community wealth building diagnostic tool can help you understand how to deliver it in your area.

Bespoke community wealth building workshops: as well as our regular CLES Community wealth building training- we can work with you to develop a tailored workshops for your organisation to help you explore how community wealth building can help you do more to address economic and social justice in your area.

Bespoke procurement and social value support: spend is one of the key pillars of community wealth building and we work with organisations to help develop a tailored approach to thinking about procurement and social value

Here is a flavour of just some of the places we’re working, or have worked, to build community wealth:

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

York and North Yorkshire have developed the first local growth plan to explicitly commit to community wealth building. CLES is working with the strategic authority to explore how this commitment can be embedded across its approach to economic development.

Liverpool City Region influenceable spend analysis

CLES have analysed influenceable procurement spend across the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and its six constituent local authorities. We examined spend data, expiring contracts, and the regional supplier base to identify areas of influenceable spend and opportunities for local SMEs and social economy organisations. Working closely with heads of procurement and their teams, we built capacity for ongoing spend analysis and delivered policy-relevant recommendations. As a result, commissioners are now sharing best practice and aligning procurement strategies to maximise the regional economic development potential of procurement.

Brent Council CWB action plan

Brent Council collaborated with CLES to embed community wealth building into its commissioning and procurement processes. CLES reviewed how Brent spends locally – examining supply chains, SMEs, and social enterprises – to retain more wealth within the borough. They then helped develop an action plan expanding Brent’s approach beyond procurement, aligned with CLES’s five community wealth pillars: local finance, plural ownership, fair work, progressive procurement, and land use.

Scottish Government CWB action plans

CLES developed community wealth building (CWB) action plans for five Scottish Government pilot areas – Fife, Clackmannanshire, Glasgow City Region, South of Scotland, and the Western Isles – during 2020/21. Each plan assessed local economic conditions against CWB’s five pillars: inclusive ownership, finance, workforce, spending, and land/property. Local authorities (Fife, Clackmannanshire, Western Isles) commissioned broad plans, while regional pilots focused on priorities: Glasgow on sustainable procurement and vacant land; South of Scotland on retrofitting social housing. Recommendations aimed to embed CWB in strategies, strengthen anchor institutions, and localise wealth. Implementation varied, with progress strongest where leadership, dedicated resources, and governance structures were in place. Most recently we have worked with many Scottish places as they begin their community wealth building journeys. With the recently passed Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Act and its duty on the public sector to develop community wealth building action plans, we are supporting more and more places as they deepen their community wealth building activity. We also work with the private sector, and have partnered with South of Scotland Enterprise on the development of a community wealth building framework for the renewable energy sector.