The LGA Economic Growth Advisers (EGA) Show and Tell Webinar was organised as part of the LGA’s Economic Growth improvement support offer. It showcased some of the economic growth case studies undertaken by local authorities through the EGA programme. The EGA programme provides bespoke support to councils on areas related to economic growth through an adviser procured by the LGA.
Almost 140 people attended the webinar, with three speakers presenting the challenges and opportunities they have experienced in growing their local economy through case studies and the lessons learned from setting out a roadmap to delivering these projects.
The session was chaired by Olivia Lancaster, Climate Change & Economic Growth Advisor at the LGA. Olivia set out an overview of the national economic growth landscape, with the key challenges and opportunities councils face in growing their economies; a brief background to the LGA economic growth offer; and the running order of the day. Olivia was joined by Matt Fletcher, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, Tamworth Borough Council; Israr Hussain, Economic Growth Manager, Hartlepool Borough Council; and Victoria Barvenova, Head of Economy, North Somerset Council.
Matt Fletcher, Head of Economic Development and Regeneration, Tamworth Borough Council
Background
Tamworth is a small urban authority just outside of Birmingham, with the town centre at its heart. It has a population of around 75,000, and a wider catchment area of around 110,000, experience significant residential expansion in the 1960s. Tamworth has a few heritage sites, such as a castle. It has strong connectivity to the wider midlands, with good motorway and train links.
Pre and Post Covid
Pre-covid there were a high level of vacant properties, with falling footfall, and a limited night-time economy. There was also a poor perception of the town centre, with many believing the town centre to be dated, unsafe and unattractive. There was also poor engagement and ownership from businesses. Post-covid footfall continued to fall, the poor perception of the town centre worsened and the large department store in the town became majority vacant. However, there was a growth and change in the large edge of centre retail offer.
Future High Street Fund
The future high-street fund will focus on a transformational change and the changes in demographic use of the town centre, to make an impact and encourage footfall. This will be done by reducing the amount of retail floorspace, by transforming the former coop building into a college, promoting local heritage, and transforming the marketplace. The council has also acquired part of the local shopping centre, to provide flexible space for smart ups, and are improving access to the town centre.
EGA Support
The EGA support provided focused on the generational changes that are taking place and how local business can be supported to both address the barriers and take advantage of this change. To support this the adviser reviewed the existing data and went to the area to gain an understanding of the place, they then undertook a detailed engagement and consultation with business and stakeholders. From this they found that there were several issues faced by stakeholders, including a need for stronger and clear communication, and the low digital use by local operators. They also found things that stakeholders wanted for the town centre, such as a more ambitious market offer and an improved night economy. From the support of the adviser a list of key priorities has been developed including supporting and encouraging aspirational local independent businesses; transforming the food, drink, and cultural offer; and holding more events and experiences.
Current Activities
Tamworth is undertaking a range of activities to tackle the key priorities identified with the advisor. These activities include increased events, new engagement opportunities, an expansion of the street market, support to new food operators, creation and launch of a 3-year business support programme, heritage activities, increase in Councillor profiles and a focus on a council led responsible officers’ group.
Next Steps
Tamworth is currently developing the next steps, including some feasibility studies, and supporting voluntary groups. The feasibility studies will be used to understand how to market Tamworth for visitors and investment and help understand the role of tourism and what this should look like. Support for voluntary groups, such as heritage and business groups, will increase their capacity and social action.
Top Tips
The top tips Tamworth gives after the completion of the EGA programme are focus on what will make the most impact, regular stakeholder engagement and consultation, transparency and communication, and a commitment to chosen activities.
Israr Hussain, Economic Growth Manager, Hartlepool Borough Council
Background
Hartlepool is a costal town in the North-East with a population of just under 94,000 and is part of the Tees Valley combined authority. It has some key industries, such as clean energy and manufacturing, and some key assets including a nuclear power plant and some ports. It faces similar challenges to other post-industrial towns such as deprivation, unemployment, and poor health.
Opportunities:
There are a wide range of opportunities in Hartlepool, such as leisure and tourism and a growing creative industries sector, there’s also been some recent investment, via the Towns Fund, investment zones and a levelling up bid. These opportunities have encouraged growth in the local economy, attracted outside investment and put Hartlepool on the path to becoming a centre for creativity in the North-East.
EGA Support
The support provided by the EGA programme focused on the creative industries within Hartlepool, including identifying organisations that support creative businesses; developing a framework to support creative businesses; developing a pathway for those at local schools to consider self-employment in the creative sector; and developing an engagement plan for stakeholders in the creative sector. To achieve this the adviser undertook many tasks including the research of data forecasts, to understand what opportunities may be available in the coming years; developing a career pathway, for those wanting to go into the creative industries; research into the educational provision, for young people seeking a creative career; identified the relationships with stakeholders that support creative industries; and bench marking against other places in the UK that have been able to support their creative sectors. There were 15 recommendations made following the study, these are categorised into the four areas of partnership, having a joint approach and representation of different sectors; business support, interventions identified and a dedicated person to drive support; BIS as a centre, holding events and building on partnerships; and education, building more links with schools and colleges.
Next steps
Hartlepool has developed the following next steps following the conclusion of the study; incorporating the recommendations into the Economic Growth Strategy; considering and bringing forward each recommendation for delivery, where resources allow; an over being provided by the proposed Hartlepool Creative Forum; and revieing the progress on a yearly basis.
Top Tips
The top tips given by Hartlepool following the completion of the EGA programme be clear on what you want to achieve, don’t constrain the consultant, and learn from others
Victoria Barvenova, Head of Economy, North Somerset Council
Background
In 2019 North Somerset declared a climate emergency and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. To achieve this ‘green’ has become a corporate priority, with the climate emergency action plan being refreshed and a focus on low carbon business and skills.
EGA Support
The EGA support provided was used to commission a report to assess SMEs to understand what challenges they are facing and what support can be given when decarbonising. This report found what industries were the largest emitters of pollution in North Somerset were similar to the national findings, with manufacturing and agriculture being the largest contributors. It also found the reasons that SMEs weren’t acting on climate change, with reasons including a lack of skills, lack of funds and other priorities taking precedence. Further to this the report was able to lay out what areas SMEs needed further support in to reduce their emissions, areas included assistance to secure funding, reducing supply chain emissions, and tracking emissions. From this the opportunities for the council to assist with helping SMEs reduce emissions were identified and included an increase in guidance and awareness raising, clear and simple advice, tools to calculate emissions levels, and easy access to advisors.
Quick Wins
A number of short-term actions are being undertaken by North Somerset council to help SMEs decarbonise with activities such as the setting up of a renewable fund and sustainable business clubs being undertaken. In addition to this awareness raising has been a key component, with a support and grants information page being available to businesses.
Longer Term Actions
In addition to short-term actions, long and medium-term actions are also being undertaken, such as the training of business and council officers in carbon literacy, and a project to deliver 1-2-1 training to business. A low carbon challenge fund has also been set up for the longer term, with £200k already being paid out, and further funding available in the future.
Q & A
The audience were then given the opportunity to ask questions of the panellists, below are some of the questions that were asked during the webinars and the answers they received:
‘How do you take town centre businesses with you on that journey?’
Matt Fletcher
Covid grants were a useful starting point to this, as they were used to start communication. Officers working on the welcome back fund spoke to businesses on a day-to-day basis. Targeting was very important, with this being done via relationships and to those with a strong voice in the community. Accessibility was very important, ensuring that retailers with very limited time are able to raise issues. Flagged the importance of having at least the perception of support.
‘Is carbon literacy something you've used across the organisation, and do you have any thoughts on where it works best?’
Victoria Barvenova
As of 2022 carbon literacy training has been mandatory for all council staff. Everyone should be working towards the net zero agenda and all services can make steps towards decarbonisation and further spread the message.
‘How are digital and social media skills being built?’
Israr Hussain
These are being built as part of the shared prosperity fund, this issue isn’t just around digital but about business as a whole and how digital can be used to improve them. If businesses come to you with issues around the digital side of things, it’s important to drill down and potentially expose other issues. Current infrastructure is lagging behind, which makes incorporation difficult due to a lack of connectivity.
The Economic Growth Advisers Programme Showcase, 13 October 2023 | Local Government Association