In this special three-way edition of Placecast, Nicola Headlam is joined by Rebecca Riley, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement and Director of City-REDI at the University of Birmingham, and Sarah Longlands, Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), to explore the rise of “Manchesterism” and what it means for the … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 24: Manchesterism, Devolution and the Future of Place-Based Leadership”
Tag: Nicola Headlam
Placecast Episode 23: Water, Place and the Power of Connection
How can water help us think differently about place, policy and public service reform? In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Deryck Irving from the University of Stirling and the FORTH2O Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) to explore how water can act as a powerful lens for understanding place-based innovation, resilience … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 23: Water, Place and the Power of Connection”
Placecast Episode 22: Ecological Citizenship, Stewardship and Local Democracy
In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Amy Burnett, LPIP Policy Fellow, researcher and practitioner in local governance, sustainability and community-led change. Amy reflects on her journey from working on decentralisation projects in Angola to researching town and parish councils in England, exploring how local democracy, stewardship and participation can create … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 22: Ecological Citizenship, Stewardship and Local Democracy”
Placecast Episode 21: Place, Pride and Poetry – Creative Ways to Understand Community
In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Joseph Owen, Nicky Marsh, and Cara Headon to explore how communities understand, experience and shape the places they call home. Drawing on the University of Southampton’s Feeling Towns research and the Mansbridge Heritage Project, the conversation examines the complex idea of “pride in place” … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 21: Place, Pride and Poetry – Creative Ways to Understand Community”
Placecast Episode 20: How AI Could Transform Local Government
In Placecast Episode 20, presenter Nicola Headlam speaks with economic development consultant and LPIP Policy Fellow Kevin Fenning about the growing role of artificial intelligence in local government. Drawing on research that identified more than 100 examples of AI use across the sector, Kevin explores how councils are adopting AI to support services ranging from … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 20: How AI Could Transform Local Government”
Placecast Episode 19: Why UK Local Economic Policy Keeps Failing
In this episode of Placecast, presenter Nicola Headlam is joined by Glenn Athey, a freelance consultant and LPIP Fellow with over 31 years of experience in economic development. Glenn brings a forensic and refreshingly candid lens to one of the most persistent problems in UK public policy: why decades of place-based economic interventions have repeatedly … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 19: Why UK Local Economic Policy Keeps Failing”
Placecast Episode 18: Community-Driven Economic Growth in Wales
In Episode 18 of Placecast, Nicola Headlam interviews Professor Calvin Jones, a LPIP Hub Place Fellow working on sustainability and regional economics in Wales. The discussion explores how devolved governance in Wales is evolving, particularly in areas such as fiscal powers, wellbeing policy, and green transition. Cavlin argues that traditional growth-led economic models are failing … Continue reading “Placecast Episode 18: Community-Driven Economic Growth in Wales”
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”