Economic Development

Essex CC
The Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service

Essex County Council set a new benchmark in economic development through its innovative Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service (EALTS). Launched in the pandemic, this initiative addresses the critical need for skills development among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Essex. By seamlessly facilitating the transfer of unused apprenticeship levy funds from larger companies to SMEs, EALTS prevents valuable resources being lost for our residents and businesses but also bolsters sectors facing urgent skills shortages. In 2024 the programme created over 150 new apprenticeship starts, particularly in the early years and adult social care sectors which are crucial.

Hackney LBC
Local people creating local jobs growing their local economy

Hackney Council’s Open Markets platform exemplifies smarter working in local government. By creating a unified, digital, and scalable licensing system, Hackney has reduced bureaucracy, enhanced market occupancy, supported local employment, and driven financial growth both internally and externally in the local economy. The platform’s transferability, coupled with its data-driven, user-centric approach, ensures it remains a model for other local authorities. This has provided a platform for Local people creating local jobs growing their local economy. Dan O’Sullivan’s visionary leadership and the Hackney Markets Service Team’s commitment to excellence make Open Markets a strong contender for the LGC Digital Impact Award.

Hammersmith and Fulham LBC
EdCity

EdCity is a mixed-use development scheme. The scheme, which totals £150m of investment, has been born out of a strong partnership between national education charity Ark and Hammersmith and Fulham Council.EdCity is an ambitious project and a committed partnership that has withstood many economic shocks and structural shifts in the 8 years since the proposals emerged. It contains 132 new homes, all of which are affordable. It also includes a new primary school, a modern youth centre, an adult education centre and new commercial space. It is a multiphase project which will fully complete in 2025.

Havant BC
Leigh Park Youth Hub

This nomination is about the Economic Impact of our Economic Development team and their Job Matching Service through the Leigh Park Youth Hub which has helped nearly 700 young people, who without this intervention would have struggled to access the job market or further education.The Youth hub works alongside the Department for Work and Pensions to support young people on a one-to-one basis from an area in the top 10% deprived locations in the UK. Addressing barriers across Health & Wellbeing, Qualifications & Experience, and Motivation & Confidence, the team support 16-24yrs olds back into employment, education, and training.

Hull City Council
Invest Hull - supporting business growth

Hull City Council is passionate about economic development, recognising its importance for the city's growth and prosperity. To address the challenges faced by businesses and entrepreneurs in Hull, we have implemented a comprehensive business support programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The programme has achieved significant results, including job creation, business growth and a reduction in carbon emissions - and, importantly, enabling residents to achieve their true potential, fostering an inclusive environment of economic growth that works for all. We are proud of the programme’s positive impact on the Hull community.

Leicester City Council
Workspaces for growth

This application showcases the impact of Leicester City Council’s managed workspaces which drive economic growth in key sectors. The rapid expansion of the portfolio has involved opening 4 new workspaces in 2024, with a fifth opening in Summer 2025. This brings 110,000 sq ft of new commercial workspace to the market, which is an 86% growth and supports 650 jobs.The portfolio is vital to address a longstanding market failure to deliver new commercial workspace in the city. Impact is far beyond a simple property service since the workspaces are hubs for connecting businesses with support, advice, inspiration and opportunity.

Lewisham LBC
Economy Jobs and Partnerships Service

Lewisham is becoming an inclusive and ambitious borough. We’ve tackled entrenched inequalities and are driving transformative change. Highlights include; a £24m town centre revitalisation, a 70% increase in creative jobs, £1m invested in affordable workspaces and empowering 250 start-ups this year alone. Lewisham Works’ employment service lead the region, achieving unprecedented job start performance. With valued strategic partnerships, hyper-local investments, and cutting-edge data use, we’re building a resilient, authentic economy that puts residents at its heart. Lewisham is no longer a ‘dormitory borough’ - it’s a catalyst for growth.

Northumberland CC
Deal agreed for multi-billion pound data campus

‘Driving Growth and Jobs’ is a key priority for Northumberland. We’ve worked tirelessly to position at the forefront of the tech economy. In 2024, we reached a spectacular milestone, when the Council agreed a deal, with ‘Blackstone’, a leading global asset management firm to develop a ‘Hyperscale Datacentre Campus’ at our Northumberland Energy Park (NEP3). This represents an investment of over £10 billion and is now subject to planning decision, due on 4 March. We believe this is the largest single inward investment in UK history. It will deliver hundreds of long-term jobs, 1,200 long-term construction jobs and help create a high-tech economic corridor in southeast Northumberland.

Torbay Council
Responding to local challenges

Faced with a breadth of local economic challenges and a relatively modest allocation of £1.7M from UK Government, Torbay Council created an ambitious UKSPF programme that invested in 14 different projects with wide-reaching impact. Our focus on collaborative working, business engagement and developing a strong referral system, helped yield impressive results. To date, Torbay’s UKSPF programme has helped

Walsall Council
Walsall Works

Walsall Works, the Council’s Employability team, supports residents in accessing jobs, apprenticeships, and training. The team collaborates with local partners, including businesses, to address economic challenges like low productivity and insufficient skills. Using data intelligence, Walsall Works targets areas of greatest need. Key initiatives include employability workshops, job fairs, and the WalsallWorks.com website. The program aligns with the Council Plan 2022/25 and We are Walsall 2040, aiming for economic growth and reduced inequalities. Future ambitions focus on up-skilling residents and fostering business dynamism.