🔎 New Spotlight series Our new evidence series, bringing together member spotlights and quarterly deep dives, draws on the experience of our network to inform transferrable lessons and emerging practice across our core themes.

In his latest piece for The MJ, GRN Executive Chair Ben Lucas reflects on how the Manchester economic growth model works and says it is here to stay after Burnham's departure as Mayor. 👉 Read the full article: www.themj.co.uk/moving-manch...

Moving on up with Manchesterism

No other British conurbation has changed as much as Manchester in the last 40 years. When I first went there in the early 1980s, I remember thinking how hollowed...

themj.co.uk

Watch Back | Devolution: an unfinished revolution Last week, GRN Executive Chair Ben Lucas joined an expert panel at NHS ConfedExpo exploring how devolution could address regional imbalances in health and economic outcomes 📹Watch the event recording: fsmevents.uk/nhs-confed/2...

New article | Why tackling the NEETs crisis means trusting places to deliver: learning from Europe Our latest by @catherineriachi.bsky.social explores lessons from the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland on tackling NEETs rates through devolution👇 growthandreformnetwork.substack.com/p/why-tackli...

Why tackling the NEETs crisis means trusting places to deliver: learning from Europe

Lessons from the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland

growthandreformnetwork.substack.com

At the Great North Investment Summit in Leeds, there was a clear sense of momentum around a shared ambition: unlocking the North's full economic potential through collaboration, investment and devolution. Read the full reflections from the Summit👇 growthandreformnetwork.substack.com/p/the-great-...

Regional devolution can help rebuild trust in government through growth Read the latest article by Ben Lucas for the MJ, outlining how Mayors can grow and reform local economies and rebuilt trust in government 👇 growthandreformnetwork.substack.com/p/regional-d...

Regional devolution can help rebuild trust in government through growth

Devolution offers a chance to restore people’s faith in government. Written by Ben Lucas, originally published in the MJ.

growthandreformnetwork.substack.com

🔎 Evaluation is not boring - it has a PR problem. Read our latest article from Erica Fletcher on how places can turn evaluation from a box-ticking exercise into a tool for lasting power and change 👇 open.substack.com/pub/growthan...

Evaluation isn't boring - it has a PR problem

How places can turn evaluation from a box-ticking exercise into a tool for lasting power

open.substack.com

📲 The Growth and Reform Network is now on Substack! Follow us to instantly receive articles on the state of devolution, inclusive growth and public service reform across the UK, as well as highlights and case studies from across our membership. 🔗 Subscribe here: substack.com/@growthandre...

Nearly one million 16-24 year olds in the UK are NEET, and 61% of those young people are economically inactive. Read our latest article on NEET rates and the case for place-based preventative action👇 growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

NEET Rates and The Case for Place-Based Preventative Action

Erica Fletcher explores the case for place-based prevention to address NEET rates.

growthandreform.org

The complex intersection of child poverty and intimate partner violence Our latest piece by @kstipetic.bsky.social explores the link between violence against women and child poverty, and the potential to join up the strategies tackling them. 🔗 Read in full: growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

The complex intersection of child poverty and intimate partner…

Kristina Stipetic explores the link between violence against women and girls and child poverty.

growthandreform.org

In our latest guest article, partners from the North of Tyne Local Community Partnerships share their tips, approaches and lessons for driving community-led investment. 🔗 Read more about the programme's ambitions and how the team approached the work: growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

Local Community Partnerships Programme: Unlocking potential across…

Rachel Armstrong shares lessons from the Local Community Partnerships Programme at NECA.

growthandreform.org

💼 Youth unemployment is at 16%. Someone born in 2008 - the year of the financial crash - has never experienced the benefits of economic growth. Our latest article for The MJ by Executive Chair Ben Lucas sets out what needs to change. 👇 growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

Give mayors the power to get young people into work

Ben Lucas says devolution of youth unemployment services is key to economic growth.

growthandreform.org

After playing a central role in establishing and growing the GRN, our Founding Director @annabel-smith.bsky.social will be leaving the network in February to take up a senior leadership role as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

New report by our two partner organisations @futuregovforum.bsky.social and Metro Dynamics outlines recommendations for national government to strengthen the role of strategic authorities to deliver for the 28 million people they serve 📄Read in full: www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/imp...

Impactful Devolution 04 - Stewards of the Regional System - Strengthening the foundations of strategic authorities - Future Governance Forum

A new report published by FGF which is written in partnership with Metro Dynamics and funded by London Councils, has recommended that national government strengthens the changes they are making for st...

futuregovernanceforum.co.uk

The Future Governance Forum (FGF)@futuregovforum.bsky.social · 6mo ago

* Government should move beyond integrated settlements towards ‘Total Place settlements’, rather than separate budgets for councils, health, policing etc www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/imp...

Poor health is now one of the biggest barriers to UK economic growth. Join us on 28 January for this webinar with @growthandreform.bsky.social​ to hear examples of good practice in economic development that are delivering benefits for health. Register now ⬇️

WEBINAR: Inclusive growth and healthy places

Showcasing good practice in how to deliver local growth and improve health.

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❄️ New article | Fuel poverty in the UK and policies to alleviate it in 2026 Fuel poverty affects at least 3.17 million English families. @kstipetic.bsky.social analyses the causes and effects of fuel poverty in the UK, as well as policies to address it in 2026. growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

Fuel poverty in the UK and policies to alleviate it in 2026

Kristina Stipetic analyses the causes, effects and policies to adress fuel poverty in the UK in 2026

growthandreform.org

🏘️New report: The Missing Links: Connecting Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods to New Economic Opportunities Our latest report with @iconeighbours.bsky.social explores how economic isolation shapes outcomes in disadvantaged neighbourhoods & how to connect them to growth growthandreform.org/resource-hub...

The Missing Links: Connecting disadvantaged neighbourhoods to new…

The Missing Links: Connecting disadvantaged neighbourhoods to new economic opportunities

growthandreform.org

Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods@iconeighbours.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Today we publish a new report with @growthandreform.bsky.social on economic growth in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

If you’re interested in ‘the quiet work that makes public service reform possible’, read this article by Annabel Smith, Director of @growthandreform.bsky.social on the important discussions that took place at December’s Britain Renewed 2025 conference futuregovforum.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...

The Quiet Work That Makes Public Service Reform Possible

Written by Annabel Smith, Director, Growth and Reform Network

futuregovforum.substack.com

📄Today, the GRN published a new report for @local.gov.uk in partnership with @futuregovforum.bsky.social on the role of councils enabling inclusive economic growth. Read the full report: growthandreform.org/resource-hub...

A Force for growth: Spotlighting the role of councils in enabling…

A Force for growth: Spotlighting the role of councils in enabling inclusive economic growth

growthandreform.org

🔧New Place Toolkit for Improving Health Through Economic Development Developed with Metro Dynamics and supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social, this toolkit is designed to support places deliver health outcomes through local economic development initiatives 📄 growthandreform.org/resource-hub...

A Place Toolkit for Improving Health through Economic Development

A Place Toolkit for Improving Health through Economic Development

growthandreform.org

💡Seven Things We’ve Learned About How Economics Shapes Our Health Read our newest blog by @tanyasingh99.bsky.social exploring the findings of our recent evidence review on health and economic development supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social Full article👇 growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

Seven Things We’ve Learned About How Economics Shapes Our Health

Tanya Singh explores the findings of our new evidence review on health and economic development.

growthandreform.org

📄New article | The politics of shaping place @annabel-smith.bsky.social, Director of the GRN, sets out the shift in focus towards local leadership at the Labour Party Conference. Read the blog: growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

The politics of shaping place

Annabel Smith detects a shift in focus towards local leadership at the Labour Party conference.

growthandreform.org

We are pleased to support this new report from our colleagues @growthandreform.bsky.social, exploring how national policy can help local and regional government to embed health outcomes in economic development and ensure inclusive growth. Read more⬇️

Growth and Reform Network@growthandreform.bsky.social · 10mo ago

📄New report | Inclusive Growth, Healthy Places We have launched a new report supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social focusing on the role of national government in creating the conditions for integrating health and economic development at place level Read👇 growthandreform.org/resource-hub...

📄New report | Inclusive Growth, Healthy Places We have launched a new report supported by @healthfoundation.bsky.social focusing on the role of national government in creating the conditions for integrating health and economic development at place level Read👇 growthandreform.org/resource-hub...

Powering Places: How the industrial strategy can deliver nationwide renewal Join this event on 29 Sept with @futuregovforum.bsky.social & Equinix at Labour Party Conference to hear from @mayorhelengodwin.bsky.social @annabel-smith.bsky.social Alex Bevan & James Tyler on growth delivery in the UK 👇

Last chance to apply! @growthandreform.bsky.social's two new openings close for applications on Monday - if you are looking for your first or next step into a think tank then look no further and apply: Senior Researcher: bit.ly/4m0YLxJ Operations Manager: bit.ly/4nbKTS8

🚨A few days left to apply! We are currently recruiting for an Operations Manager and a Senior Researcher to join our small and dynamic team. 🔗Learn more about the roles and apply: growthandreform.org/about-us/our...

Our team

Find out more about our team

growthandreform.org

🚨Job opportunity: Senior Researcher We are recruiting for a senior researcher to manage our research programme in support of inclusive growth, impactful devolution and public service reform policy 📄Learn more about the job and apply: growthandreform.org/about-us/job...

In July, the GRN convened leaders from local and central government, the NHS, and VCSE sector for a roundtable hosted by GMCA The discussion focused on the scale of opportunity and challenges of marrying preventative strategies with delivery in places. Read more👇 growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

Roundtable briefing: A preventative approach to public services

Place leaders came together in Manchester to explore the prevention demonstrator approach

growthandreform.org

July was a historic month for devolution and the mission to reshape the state, moving power closer to local communities. @annabel-smith.bsky.social, Director of the Growth and Reform Network, sets out how to effectively embed place-led collaboration 🔗Read more: growthandreform.org/ign-insights...

From duty to delivery

Collaboration is no longer optional – it is part of the statutory fabric.

growthandreform.org