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Ten questions government should answer about the Regional Growth Fund
Will government be transparent about RGF? On the balance of probabilities, Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is neither a ‘national scandal’ nor ‘the best thing since sliced bread’ – but you would never know...
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The case for a ‘local growth pact’…
One of the most striking political contrasts of early May was between Presidential elections in France and Local Government elections in England. In France we had M.Hollande elected on a turnout over...
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Improving your chances in the Regional Growth Fund Round Three lottery
With applications for Round Three of Regional Growth Fund (RGF) closing on 13th June 2012, what can potential applicants learn from the recent NAO report on Rounds One and Two of the fund? The report...
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Towards LEP effectiveness and ‘better’ local economic growth
The slightly cumbersomely-named ‘All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on local growth, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Enterprise Zones (EZs)’ inquiry into LEP effectiveness completes its...
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What Regional Growth Fund and Local Enterprise Partnership reports can tell...
Government...still digging a big hole into which they are shovelling local economic growth This week has seen light thrown on two of government’s local economic growth flagships – Regional Growth Fund...
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Approaching the moment of truth for Regional Growth Fund (RGF)
'seconds out...round three' The announcement this week of 130 successful bids sharing £1.05 billion of RGF Round Three government grant means – according to the DBIS web site – that 306 projects can...
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Realising the sustainable growth dividend from infrastructure investment
It was a huge pleasure this week to contribute to the Institute of Economic Development (IED) annual conference. Like the Northern Growth Summit, in October, everyone seems very busy. Talented...
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A ‘fairytale in England’….what does your LEP or local authority want for Xmas?
After one of the most challenging years for economic growth and development that I can remember, LEPs and local authorities (LAs) need and deserve all the riches that the twelve days of festivities can...
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Lies, damn lies, and RGF round four…
My blog last week urged our sector to get a full local understanding of the latest ONS statistical releases – census, GVA, and employment participation rates. My motivation was to ensure impending work...
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A tale of two ‘top 100’s….
Similar to my blog on ‘Cities Outlook 2013’ earlier this year, I love the annual Regeneration and Renewal (R&R) ‘top 100 regeneration projects’. These exercises always raise as many questions as...
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The gap between “philosophy” and practice – welcome to the new single local...
Trying to work out how much spending review and EUSIF 2014-20 has given to your area? When the chancellor announced the new Single Local Growth Fund (SLGF) with “Our philosophy is simple: trust people...
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Round 4 and Annual Monitoring Report – what we still don’t know about RGF…
RGF – shrouded in ambiguity – at least until the next election! Whenever I am stuck for a topic on which to blog, there is always Regional Growth Fund (RGF)! And with this week’s Round Four (R4)...
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Helping your local businesses avoid an extended bank holiday
After the extended bank holiday…back to the business of business banking The coming weekend may be the last chance for many of us to take a short break, before the long slog of autumn – and delivering...
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Getting to know…alternative financing instruments
‘Follow the bitcoin?’ or what can new financial instruments offer to local economic growth? The announcement, last week, that Hull Council is creating its own ‘digital currency’ – HullCoin – which the...
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Everything’s not coming up roses in Clegg’s Garden Cities
Not too many roses in the thorny coalition garden city and LGF policies …Talking of oxymorons…Nick Clegg (DPM) has probably provided the coalition with more ‘bittersweet’ political surrealism than most...
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