In this episode of Placecast, presenter Dr Gerardo Javier Arriaga-Garcia is joined by Nina Ruddle and Sophie Cloutterbuck to explore what really enables innovation to take root in places as different as North Wales and London. Together, they argue that successful place-based development is not driven primarily by infrastructure or investment, but by relationships, trust … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 17: Trust and Place-Based Innovation”
“Data is Never Neutral”: Telling Stories About Place
This blog, by Dr Joseph Owen, explores how a place-based qualitative data observatory can connect stories, strengthen evidence, and shape more grounded local decision-making. It explores some of the key ideas from this policy briefing – Towards A Place-Based Qualitative Data Observatory. For some time now, I’ve been keen to translate our research on qualitative … Continue reading ““Data is Never Neutral”: Telling Stories About Place”
Policy News – June 2026
This blog summarises the latest policy news that is important to place, including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. It is updated every week. View previous editions. If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch. Reports Title Details Published Everything in its right place: Establishing … Continue reading “Policy News – June 2026”
Placecast Episode 16: Beyond Publications: Building Research Careers That Matter
In this episode of PlaceCast, Rebecca Riley talks to Dr Conor O’Carroll about how research careers need to evolve to better support place-based policy and real-world impact. Dr O’Carroll argues that traditional academic pathways, particularly the PhD as a route into academia, are no longer fit for purpose, with most researchers working beyond universities. The … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 16: Beyond Publications: Building Research Careers That Matter”
Why Public Systems Need to Learn from the Outside-In
In this blog, Mark Swift argues that public sector transformation is no longer driven solely from within institutions. Increasingly, the most valuable insights are emerging from the spaces between systems, communities, and lived experience. This blog discusses the findings in Mark’s recent report – The Outside-In: The Role of Social Entrepreneurs in Public Sector Transformation. … Continue reading “Why Public Systems Need to Learn from the Outside-In”
Ecological Citizenship: A Lens to Help Navigate Place-Based Action
Dr Amy Burnett (Middlesex University, Centre for the Understanding of Societal Prosperity and founder of Valuing Community) is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Place Fellow. Amy is testing a definition of Ecological Citizenship to scaffold her research on regenerative innovation as a framework for inclusive, place-based sustainability transitions. In this blog, she introduces this … Continue reading “Ecological Citizenship: A Lens to Help Navigate Place-Based Action”
Policy News – May 2026
This blog summarises the latest policy news that is important to place, including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. It is updated every week. View previous editions. If you have a piece of research you would like to feature in Policy News, please get in touch. UK Parliament Title Details Published / Deadline HM Treasury and … Continue reading “Policy News – May 2026”
Placecast Episode 15: Data, Devolution and Delivery
In the latest episode of Placecast, host Dr Nicola Headlam is joined by Richard Jeffery, National Director at GC Insight and long‑standing leader in local economic development, and Nathan Shoesmith, Economic Consultant at GC Insight, specialising in data‑driven economic development and place‑based strategy. Together, they explore a deceptively simple question with profound implications for policy … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 15: Data, Devolution and Delivery”
Placecast Episode 14: Power, Trust, and Community Organising in Birmingham
How do communities move from being consulted to being genuinely heard? What does it take to turn knowledge into influence, and influence into action? And what happens when universities, civil society and local leaders commit to working together over the long term rather than through short-term projects? In this episode of Placecast, we explore these … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 14: Power, Trust, and Community Organising in Birmingham”
Placecast Hits 1,000 Downloads: A Milestone for Place-Based Conversations
Placecast, the podcast exploring place-based policy, regional development and local innovation, has officially passed 1,000 downloads, reflecting growing interest in conversations about how places can thrive. Since its launch, Placecast has provided a dedicated platform for voices working across policy, research and practice. Each episode brings together policymakers, academics, practitioners and civic leaders to explore … Continue reading “Placecast Hits 1,000 Downloads: A Milestone for Place-Based Conversations”