PodcastsGovernmentLED Confidential

LED Confidential

LED Confidential
LED Confidential
Latest episode

121 episodes

  • LED Confidential

    Local Government Reorganisation and the capacity crunch

    16/04/2026 | 11 mins.
    In this Espresso Shot episode David and Mike unpack the UK Government’s 25 March 2026 announcements on Local Government Reorganisation in England. These included proposed moves from 44 authorities to 16 unitaries across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and the paused decision on Sussex and Brighton & Hove pending further consultation. They ask: Is this good news, bad news, or indifferent for local economic development and placemaking? And what does it mean when reorganisation lands alongside emergent mayoral / sub‑regional governance, with real risks around delivery capacity, 'shadow' arrangements, and keeping LED priorities visible during transition?
  • LED Confidential

    AI in the economic development professional's day job: tools, traps and human judgement

    09/04/2026 | 12 mins.
    Is AI changing how you do local economic development and placemaking – or just adding noise? In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike share real examples of using AI to augment workshop management, support  stakeholder engagement and review business cases, alongside stories of mistranslations and “garbage” syntheses. They explore where AI genuinely augments LED work – and where human judgement, strategic insight and relationship‑building still have to lead.
  • LED Confidential

    What does the "Green wave" mean for local economic development and placemaking?

    02/04/2026 | 10 mins.
    What happens to local economic development when Green Party councillors and (potentially) mayors become a major force in local government? David and Mike explore the “Green wave” – from housing quality and community ownership to a proposed uplift in local government funding tied to net zero and inclusion – and ask whether our current tools and economic plans are ready for it.
  • LED Confidential

    Is energy now the organising principle for local economic development and placemaking?

    26/03/2026 | 11 mins.
    Is the capacity of our power infrastructure now the majordeterminant of local and regional growth? David and Mike explore how grid constraints, global energy shocks and local political battles over  the net zero transition are reshaping regeneration pipelines, spatial strategies and local economic  plans. They ask what role Mayoral Strategic Authorities, non -mayoral areas and infrastructure providers should play as energy becomes an organising principle for LED.
  • LED Confidential

    Team Edinburgh: the growing role of business leadership in shaping modern local economic development

    19/03/2026 | 42 mins.
    Edinburgh is one of the UK’s star city economies. But is success breeding complacency? David and Mike talk to Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, about Edinburgh 2030 – a business‑led call to action that aims to turn a patchwork of sector plans into a clear local growth strategy and a stronger “Team Edinburgh” voice. They discuss models for strategic leadership, regional powers, and why investing in foundations like skills, housing, lab space and transport is critical to delivering good, poverty‑reducing growth from a position of strength.

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About LED Confidential

Podcast about local economic development and placemaking. Co-hosted by Mike Spicer of PolicyDepartment and David Marlow of Third Life Economics. Mike, David and guests address the divisive, often unspoken issues facing economic development professionals in 2020s Britain. Website: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
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