Case studies

Hartlepool Council’s Economic Growth Team are responsible for directly growing the Hartlepool economy by supporting new and existing businesses. In addition, the team manage the council’s creative industries managed workspace facility ‘The BIS’ which was developed to specifically address the needs of the growing creative sector in Hartlepool. A research study was commissioned to map out a route to enhance and grow opportunities in the creative economy which would add to the ambitions for the BIS to become ‘the home of creativity’ in Hartlepool.

Nottingham City Council have undertaken a survey of the vacancies in the city centre to support its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop a long-term vision to diversify its offer to attract more people to live, work and visit the city. The report has highlighted new options that can fill these vacancies to reflect a more diverse city centre. These include creating a night-time economy, as well as new leisure activities whilst increasing the public realm space in the city centre and aligning it to its new vision for its Broadmarsh centre.

West Lindsey District Council undertook a review of their draft visitor economy strategy as part of the LGA’s Economic Growth Advisers Programme and commissioned a consultant to assist them in developing a fit for purpose strategy and action plan.

West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council have agreed a Growth Deal to deliver regeneration schemes to its town centre and business district by improving transport infrastructure, delivering new homes and unlocking new commercial space. By doing so, it aims to support the economic recovery of the borough from the pandemic and deliver long term economic growth.

Tendring District Council (TDC) is undertaking a project to incorporate social value to its existing procurement process, based on the anchor institutions approach. Local authorities, other public bodies, and some large voluntary and private sector organisations form the ‘anchors’ in a place. Having seen examples from Preston, Manchester, and an emerging approach from Essex County Council , the desired outcome is to better communicate the procurement process to local companies and support them to understand how to bid into council contracts to increase the level of spend by anchors on local companies.

The need for faster broadband has been exacerbated due to the increasing demand on our communications networks and the roll out of full fibre is key to supporting increased home working, delivering sustainable growth and increasing productivity in Dorset.

The Worthing Public Realm Improvements programme forms part of the Adur and Worthing Growth Programme. It aims to enhance the public realm by improving accessibility in public spaces in Worthing and developing transport infrastructure to improve connectivity between the town and its regeneration sites to deliver economic growth and support businesses in the area.

The Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme is a new ambitious project developed through a partnership between Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council to transform Burgess Hill into a 21st century sustainable town with improved transport and highways infrastructure. It also aims to create opportunities for economic growth through new jobs and the delivery of residential and commercial development.

Community Employment Hubs have been set up in various locations across Somerset West and Taunton (SWT). The hubs offer flexible support to people who want to overcome personal barriers to their skills development and employment prospects. The holistic approach and ethos of the hubs contribute towards the confidence, self-esteem, social interaction, health and wellbeing of attendees. The hub model has proved to be a success and the aims are to develop and expand the provision to ten hubs across the district delivering employment, apprenticeships, skills development as well as training support and information by mid-2022.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is tackling the economic impacts of COVID-19 through a new Economic Renewal Action Plan, including a £2 million Prioritised Recovery Programme (PRP) of immediately deliverable action. The approach combines an evidence-based, strategy-led plan with practical action to tackle critical issues and gaps in support to accelerate recovery.