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”
Author: Stuart Mitchell
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”
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”
Fashion, Textiles and the Cost of Policy Fragmentation in the UK
A new report, by Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable and Alix Coombs, examines how the UK fashion and textiles sector is positioned within national, devolved and local policy frameworks, and what this positioning means for its ability to function as a stable, place-based economic system that supports skills retention, inclusive growth and regional resilience. Conducted as … Continue reading “Fashion, Textiles and the Cost of Policy Fragmentation in the UK”
Placecast Episode 13 – Planting Trees You’ll Never Sit Under: Why Nature Recovery Is Central to Regional Development
What if nature recovery wasn’t a “nice to have”, but a foundation of regional development? What if parish councils, farmers, and local communities were recognised as national assets rather than peripheral actors? And what if the future of England’s economy depended not only on cities, but on the rural places that quietly sustain them? In … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 13 – Planting Trees You’ll Never Sit Under: Why Nature Recovery Is Central to Regional Development”
Policy News – April 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 from Parliament Title Details Published Public engagement with the … Continue reading “Policy News – April 2026”