Local Institutions, Productivity, Sustainability and Inclusivity Trade-offs (LIPSIT)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Surrey
Department Name: Sociology

Abstract

The aim of the project is to identify institutional and organisational arrangements at the regional level that tend to lead to the 'good' management of policy trade-offs associated with increasing productivity, and to make recommendations based on this.

These trade-offs are between productivity growth, inclusivity and sustainability. They arise because authorities have limited resources and have to prioritise: policies to maximise productivity may not maximise inclusivity or sustainability, policies to maximise inclusivity may not maximise sustainability and so on. Trade-off management is 'good' when it reduces the need for compromise between the three objectives, or to the extent that compromise is necessary, when it helps regional policy makers achieve their priorities.

Recommendations will cover:

1. Changes to the way national and regional policy makers operate within the current system of institutions and organisations
2. Modest changes to that system that policy makers responsible for the design of the system are likely to accept, and
3. More radical changes to that system that could be adopted in the future.

If policy makers act on these recommendations this will lead to strengthened institutions and thus to improved regional and local productivities. Ultimately this should lead to an improvement in the UK's productivity record.

To achieve this the project will answer the following research questions:
1. What kinds of relevant institutional and organisational arrangements exist across the UK regions? How do the regional economies compare?
2. What kinds of trade-offs do these organisations consider important and how do they manage them?
3. What trade-offs between productivity growth, inclusivity and sustainability are actually achieved?
4. Which regional institutional and organisational arrangements, now or in the past, have tended to produce 'good' management of these trade-offs? Are there better practices in mainland Europe?

To answer these involves a five stage process:

Stage 1 (scoping): we will capture the state of the art on what explains differentials in productivity, interview and hold two workshops for key stakeholders to refine the research agenda, engage with a wider stakeholder group, and develop a typology of UK regions based on their economies, their institutional and organisational arrangements, and the outcomes over time. We will use this to identify eight regions for in depth comparison.

Stage 2 (secondary data analysis): we will profile all UK regions using measures of productivity, jobs and other economic, social, and environmental targets and examine influences on productivity growth. We will also analyse local industrial and economic strategies, including performance targets.

Stages 3 and 4 involve the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative analysis - of all UK regions - will focus on the impact of governance structures, mechanisms and practices on variables associated with the three outcomes, using approaches that allow for so called "treatment" effects, and to distinguish correlation from causation. The qualitative analysis - of the 8 regions - will include formal analysis of strategic statements, networks, and the functions carried out within these networks, as well as interviews. We will identify what trade-offs are actually achieved and use formal analysis to tease out how institutional arrangements have affected these and the strategic choices - and what might make a difference in the future. We will supplement this with insights from an analysis of overseas regions and historical cases.

Stage 5 involves drawing together the findings of the previous stages, discussing this with key stakeholders, developing a set of recommendations with them, and communicating with a wider stakeholder group.

Planned Impact

The project's impact consists in helping regional and local policy makers responsible for industrial strategy to make good trade-offs between productivity growth, inclusivity and sustainability. In order to achieve this, it will help national policy makers improve the design of the institutional and organisational systems through which these strategies are created and implemented.

Regional level policy makers include local authorities, including combined authorities, and LEPS. National level policy makers include: BEIS, MHCLG, HM Treasury, and Cabinet Office/No 10, the Welsh Government, and opposition politicians. Others involved include chambers of commerce, universities, further education colleges, Sector Skills Councils, NHS Trusts, trade associations and trade unions.

Our 'Pathways to Impact' describes in more detail who we will influence and the processes we will use. The rest of this section describes the nature of the impact.

1. Changes within the current system

Regional and national policy makers will gain increased understanding of the nature of the trade-offs they face between increasing productivity, inclusivity and sustainability, and the opportunity costs of pursuing this or that growth scenario, and of local and regional productivities. This will allow them to make more informed choices about priorities.

They will also gain increased awareness of how their decisions and practices affect the decisions and practices of others (at regional, national and firm level) upon whom successful outcomes depend. This will allow them to modify their own behaviour to help them to achieve their priorities.

Decisions by policy makers are about the content of local industrial strategies, the narratives these include or imply, and implementation. Practices affect how implementation is carried out and hence the trade-offs made in practice. They are also a matter of whom policy makers have contact with, how they coordinate the efforts of other actors, how they source and use evidence, how they are organised internally, and how they build a consensus and with whom.

2. Modest changes to the system

Policy makers in a position either to change the current system (e.g. in BEIS), or to encourage others to change the system (e.g. operating at regional level), will gain awareness of what tends to work well and what doesn't in specific contexts. This will be based on the decisions and behaviours described above, and the observed effects of governance and structure on those decisions and behaviours, and in turn on outcomes.

3. More radical changes to the system

Policy makers who are either in a position to change the current system (e.g. in BEIS), or may be in the future (e.g. the opposition front bench), will become aware of any serious defects in that system that require major policy changes. Based on an analysis of current governance, structures and identified gaps, they will become aware of policy options, informed by examples of current and past good practice in the UK and overseas. They will then be in a position to develop longer term policies to provide better outcomes.

We will co-produce the recommendations with policy makers, so there is a high chance that they will accept the recommendations. The end result of the project, if policy makers accept our recommendations, will be stronger and potentially new institutions that work for productivity.These strengthened or new institutions will facilitate improved management of the trade-offs described here and thus improved regional and local productivities. Ultimately this should lead to an improvement in the UK's productivity record, and thus wider benefits, particularly in those regions which have been less successful in the past. It will therefore also help shape the thinking around the development of entities such as Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine as they develop post-Brexit.
 
Title LIPSIT Project logo 
Description A logo comprising of 3 coloured Triangles and the acronym LIPSIT. Each triangle represents the research themes Productivity, Sustainability and Inclusivity. The triangle also symbolises the challenge faced by regional and local organisation in managing these 3 completing priorities as they make policy choices. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2019 
Impact Added to all LIPSIT network Communication materials ( website, powerpoint presentations, meeting papers, pop up banner, e mail correspondence) This has helped to create an identity and raise awareness for the LIPSIT project. 
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/
 
Description Our Research has highlighted:
* Different economic growth trajectories across regions reveal the most dynamic, emerging, marginalised and declining regions in the UK. These provide insights for targeting support as well as from where lessons can be learnt for regions looking to improve prosperity.
* Assessing performance change across regions shows low levels of economic prosperity growth in the North and East of England compared to average-to-good improvements in the South.
* Some regions achieving high growth on measures of economic prosperity are also managing to achieve greater equality across socio-economic groups and/or increase levels of sustainability. An exception is London. Although economic prosperity is highest in London and the South East. London is amongst the least inclusive regions in the UK.
* Complex institutional architecture, including multiple overlapping agencies often with contested remits, significantly reduces the collective capacity and capability of regional institutions.
* Ambiguity over accountability, democratic legitimacy and the allocation of decision-making powers at the local level undermines consensus and can incentivise competition rather than collaboration.
* A low level of direct investment in regions and limited organisational capabilities of local agencies underpin a path-dependency, making it more difficult for the least productive, most deprived regions to change their growth trajectories.
* There is a trade-off, in that growing output - which one assumes would come from the sectoral targeting, does not improve inclusivity. However, taken together, giving less prosperous LEPs job targets leads to the opposite of levelling up - at least in terms of productivity and inclusivity. Better jobs go to more prosperous locations - reinforcing the cycle.
* Regions tend to pursue short-term productivity gains at the expense of inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and long-term economic growth. This narrow approach to policy trade-offs is primarily caused by the lack of power, resource, and capability at the regional level, and is linked to an institutionalised short-termism that prevents transformative policy and impairs strategic thinking.
* Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are heavily interconnected with the regional economy through interlocking company directorships. There is, however, significant variability between regions, with the more heavily networked LEPs connected to more than double the number of companies as the less connected. More problematically, within each LEP area there is a mismatch between the sectors in which people are most employed and the sectors represented by (and networked with) LEP boards. This aligns with the finding from our stakeholder interviews that regional government in the UK prioritises productivity gains over employment gains.
* Our international comparisons show that successful economic restructuring in the Ruhr Valley and Valencia has been due to strong decentralised institutional arrangements.
* Regions with poor governance structures tend to have lower productivity and greater inequality and strengthening governance institutions can address these issues.
* These findings have been used to develop inputs into the debate about the forthcoming Levelling Up white paper.
Exploitation Route LIPSIT research findings and publications are being used by :-
WM CITI-REDI project in their new 'Building consensus-building in city-regions' project, led by LIPSIT Co-I Dr Charlotte Hoole starting in April 2021.
Various academics* across different UK institutions in teaching students about the complexity of local government in England. *Professor John Tomaney from UCL, Dr Martin Quinn (University of Leicester) and Dr Stephen Hincks (University of Sheffield) have confirmed they will use LIPSIT blog and maps in their teaching
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice

URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/project-outputs/
 
Description Our Research findings are being used by non-Academic sectors to help them tackle economic and inclusivity challenges. These include: * The West Midlands Combined Authority new West Midlands functioning geographies project. * The BEIS select committee investigation of Inclusive growth. LIPSIT CO-I Professor Nigel Driffield is also advisor to the BEIS select committee on Inclusive growth. URL https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/365/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/news/120574/committee-announce-upcoming-sessions-and-business-roundtable-events/ * Midlands Engine and the Northern Powerhouse in tackling their challenges of levelling up' and barriers to growth. * Coventry /Warks LEP, Coventry city council, Warwickshire county council, and the district councils of Rugby, Stratford and Warwick. * Organisations and individuals who are responsible for producing and implementing the Government's proposed Devolution White Paper e.g. the BEIS Industrial Strategy team, H.M.Treasury, MHCLG , MPs, West Midlands Growth Company (Roger Mendonca), the Welsh LGA, West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham City Council the LGA, Welsh Chief Regional Officers, CCR City Deal, Welsh LGA, Wales TUC, LEP chairs and executives to make changes , GBS LEP and The LEP Network. Leading employers, business organisations, Skills sector representatives, Innovate UK, etc. The LISPIT Team has been told they have helped shape the advocacy efforts of others. * National, regional and local Devolution Think Tanks that we will continue to target through further advocacy of our Levelling Up Report Evidence and Recommendations.
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal,Economic,Policy & public services

 
Description Acting as a special advisor to BEIS select committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/365/business-energy-and-industrial-strategy-committee/new...
 
Description Citation in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill 2022-23
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9558/CBP-9558.pdf
 
Description Civil Service Leadership Event on Levelling Up
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY9pzzk424F4ym4qnTldutRGVqkG0LAawtQcsjCE0FbeIwww/viewform
 
Description Future of the central Business District - Birmingham
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact better understanding of economic development policy and practice by the private sector.
URL https://colmorebusinessdistrict.com/2021/10/colmore-bid-outlines-vision-for-future-business-district...
 
Description House Of Lords Future Governance of the UK Inquiry May 2021
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5802/ldselect/ldconst/142/142.pdf
 
Description Influencing Government Devolution Framework
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1052...
 
Description Investment, Finance, and Productivity Mapping Workshop
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Midlands Engine Quarterly Briefing
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Briefing to stakeholders on three projects
 
Description Midlands Engine Research parnership
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact better understanding of the evidence base for the region
URL https://www.midlandsengine.org/sector/global/
 
Description Midlands Engine economic observatory board
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact Better understanding on what drives inward investment and the links to productivity
URL https://www.midlandsengine.org/observatory/
 
Description Presentation of findings at "sustainable coventry"
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://warwick.ac.uk/research/priorities/sustainable-coventry-warwickshire/october-symposium/
 
Description West Midlands Growth company task and finish group on regions value proposition for inward investors
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact Improvements to the way that the region communicates its vale proposition to potential investors
 
Description evidence to DIT select committee enquiry into inward investment
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
Impact Evidence to select committee - published
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/work/903/inward-foreign-direct-investment/publications/written-evid...
 
Description presentation on productivity and levelling up, APPG enterprise
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact Clearly this relies on the offices of the APPG
 
Description The Productivity Institute
Amount £26,621,454 (GBP)
Funding ID ES/V002740/1 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 08/2025
 
Description Collaboration with West Midlands Growth Company 
Organisation West Midlands Growth Company
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Analysis of inward investment flows into the region and help with strategy formulation
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data and facilitating private sector contacts
Impact Internal documents for their use in terms of understanding FDI flows
Start Year 2021
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation Cardiff University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation DEMOS
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation ILSA Consulting
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation University of Warwick
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation Welsh Local Government Association
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Project Management Team 
Organisation West Midlands Growth Company
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution As the PI I have chaired the LIPSIT Project Management Team Meetings which meets monthly. My research team are responsible for updating the Project Management Team members of progress in the delivery of LIPSIT research objectives and products. They also highlight areas using our Red Amber Green Traffic light system where there are significant or moderate issues or risks. This enables the management group to focus their discussions to resolving key issues and managing risks to an acceptable level.
Collaborator Contribution Each of the 7 Co Investigators attends monthly LIPSIT Project Management Team meetings plus other technical discussions and LIPSIT events, estimated at 5 person days each per year
Impact Monthly LIPSIT Project Highlight Reports Minutes of meetings
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Team Meetings 
Organisation Cardiff University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As PI I chair the biannual team meetings. My research team are responsible for organising meetings and discussion papers.
Collaborator Contribution LIPSIT Research and Communications officers attend the 1-2 days Biannual meetings in Guildford.
Impact Agreed LIPSIT Project Plan Agreed Communications Plan Agreed approaches to the delivery LIPSIT research products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Team Meetings 
Organisation DEMOS
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution As PI I chair the biannual team meetings. My research team are responsible for organising meetings and discussion papers.
Collaborator Contribution LIPSIT Research and Communications officers attend the 1-2 days Biannual meetings in Guildford.
Impact Agreed LIPSIT Project Plan Agreed Communications Plan Agreed approaches to the delivery LIPSIT research products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Team Meetings 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As PI I chair the biannual team meetings. My research team are responsible for organising meetings and discussion papers.
Collaborator Contribution LIPSIT Research and Communications officers attend the 1-2 days Biannual meetings in Guildford.
Impact Agreed LIPSIT Project Plan Agreed Communications Plan Agreed approaches to the delivery LIPSIT research products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description LIPSIT Team Meetings 
Organisation University of Warwick
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution As PI I chair the biannual team meetings. My research team are responsible for organising meetings and discussion papers.
Collaborator Contribution LIPSIT Research and Communications officers attend the 1-2 days Biannual meetings in Guildford.
Impact Agreed LIPSIT Project Plan Agreed Communications Plan Agreed approaches to the delivery LIPSIT research products.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Achieving Levelling-up: the Structures and Processes Needed - Pane1 Event 18th Nov 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact An 1 hour Panel was convened via Zoon on the afternoon of 18th Nov 2020 to discuss the findings of our LIPSIT Achieving Levelling up Report.

Panellists included Lord Jim O'Neill, former Goldman Sachs Chief Economist, HM Treasury minister and Northern Powerhouse architect; Professor Donna Hall CBE, Chair of New Local and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust; and Jamie Driscoll, mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Over 125 people attended Government departments, local councils, Combined Authorities, Local Economic Partnerships, universities and interest groups.

The Panellists welcomed the findings of the report, agreeing it was a useful contribution to the debate. Throughout the discussion there was a fairly high level of consensus on why little progress had been made in the area and what was needed.

Report circulated to Darren Jones, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Post-pandemic economic growth: Levelling up - local and regional structures and the delivery of economic growth.

Report was circulated electronically directly to over 1100 senior local politicians (mainly mayors, group leaders and council leaders) and 4000 people on DEMOS mailing list.

Report also picked up by Daily Mirror newspaper https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnsons-levelling-up-plan-23025389
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/project-outputs/
 
Description Building Future Resilience in the region 23 Jan 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Aim, to explore economic resilience and policy interventions

Audience - West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS)

Impacts are on going, but mostly data and intelligence - i.e offering expertise, so engagement rather than impact
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Conservative Party Conference , Levelling Up Reception 3rd Oct 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The event was hosted by George Freeman (Science and Innovation Minister & active backbencher). It sparked informal discussions amongst policy makers on the Governments proposed levelling Up White Paper.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://demos.co.uk/event/party-conference-drinks-reception/
 
Description English Devolution Discussion 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation given to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHC Team) focused on devolution but also discussed the devolution points highlighted in the LIPSIT report Delivering Levelling Up: Don't turn on the taps without fixing the pipes.

The purpose of the meeting was to present research on the problems with England's governance structures. Following the meeting, the DLHC Team sent the LIPSIT presenter a list of future research questions that they're interested in, which he will be looking to address in his new role at The Productivity Institute.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Environmental Sustainability and Regional Governance in the Humber, West Midlands and Cardiff Capital Region, Regions in Recovery conference, 4th June 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Purpose of the presentation was to stimulate debate about the how the structure of UK subnational government hinders and should be organised to effectively embed and tackle the challenges of environmental sustainability.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://events.rdmobile.com/Lists/Details/1132454
 
Description Institute of Welsh Affairs Virtual Economy Summit 30th November 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact The panel discussion, followed by an audience Q&A, addressed themes including:
• Reflections on 'Levelling Up' and the changing economic development geography
• Economic policy at a local level - are local authorities and civil society organisations prepared for the new reality? What is the vision for local economic development across Wales?
• Growth and inclusivity in economic development - what is the UK Government's position on this debate, and how might they use 'Levelling Up' to promote that position?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://businessnewswales.com/institute-of-welsh-affairs-announces-major-economy-summit/
 
Description International Conference on Public Policy 5-9 July 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of paper on Green Growth and Regional Governance in the Humber, West Midlands and Cardiff Capital Region provoked questions, comments and discussion. These will be used to develop the paper further other publications
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.ippapublicpolicy.org/conference/icpp5-barcelona-2021/panel-list/13/panel/governing-clima...
 
Description LIPSIT English Devolution Stakeholder Workshop, 27th April 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Around 20 external people attended. The input from stakeholders was low and there was little support for a joint report. Discussion points would be used alongside other LIPSIT research papers (Place Based, Sustainability etc ) would be used to inform the second Volume of a LIPSIT Levelling up report.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://www.lipsit.ac.uk
 
Description LIPSIT Levelling Up Research Findings & Recommendations, South Yorkshire Combined Authority , Webinar, 11th Nov 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presented a high level summary of LIPSIT Delivering Levelling-Up Report findings and recommendations.

Some members of the audience contacted LIPSIT presenters directly to discuss LIPSIT recommendations further.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://www.lipsit.ac.uk
 
Description LIPSIT Stakeholder Interviews Round 1 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Between November 2019- Jan 2020, thirteen interviews have been held with senior policy makers and industry representatives either face to face, telephone or video conference.

Questions have been designed to generate more detailed answers to questions that will refine the LIPSIT research agenda and our future recommendations.

Questions have been drafted to assess the extent to which organisations decisions are influenced by local strategies, relative to national and global factors, and to understand stakeholders' perceptions of the trade-offs between Productivity, Sustainability and Inclusivity.

The interviews have been professionally transcribed and coded.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/
 
Description LIPSIT Stakeholder Interviews Round 2 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Between June - October 2020, the LIPSIT research team conducted 51 in depth structured interviews via phone/video in 8 LEP regions* with senior local authority, academic and industry LEP representatives.
*8 LEP regions include Worcestershire, Enterprise M3 LEP, Humber , Tees Valley CA, NE Region, SE Wales, West Midlands CA and Black Country LEP.

Their purpose was to gather further evidence of the best 'institutional arrangements' at local or regional level needed to achieve national and local government's objectives: higher productivity, a more inclusive economy and reduced carbon emissions.

The interviews were professionally transcribed and analysed by the LIPSIT team.

Findings were used to identify problems with the current system for managing local economic policy and support LIPSIT recommendation to Government in our "Achieving Levelling-Up Report published in November 2020
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://www.lipsit.ac.uk
 
Description LIPSIT Stakeholder Workshops January 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact 2 workshops were held on 21st January 2020 London |(20 attendees) and 29th January 2020 Leeds (15 people) for policymakers and other key stakeholders.

Aim was to obtain views to help inform the LIPSIT project research.

Discussions focused on the nature of the problems in this policy area and which research findings and recommendations that would be of most value.

Discussion also provided opportunities to learn from other participants' experiences.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/
 
Description Labour Party Conference, LIPSIT Panel Event Growth for the Many: Ensuring Local Democracy Survives Levelling Up 25th September 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Panel Discussion focused on Growth for the Many: Ensuring Local Democracy Survives Levelling Up. Panel Members included Andy Burnham (Manchester Mayor) and Bridget Phillipson (Shadow Treasury Secretary) and Charles Seaford (LIPSIT Project Investigator). The discussion provoked questions and debate which will be used to inform future comments and input to the Government forthcoming Levelling Up White Paper.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://demos.co.uk/event/party-conference-growth-for-many/
 
Description Local Government Stream of the ECPR General Conference 1st September 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Blurring of the Public and Private Sectors in England's 'Local Enterprise Partnerships paper was presented. It provoked questions and discussion which will be used to develop the paper for other relevant journals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://ecpr.eu/Events/Event/PaperDetails/59102
 
Description Meeting to discuss inward investment strategy with Warwickshire Council 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Driffield has been invited to help Warwickshire to develop a strategic economic plan and inward investment strategy. A meeting took place in February 2020 to sketch out initial thoughts, with more to follow.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Meeting with Political advisor to Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Labour party are currently developing a new policy framework for the 2024 election.

LIPSIT Team gave a short talk on key findings and recommendations from the LIPSIT project and answered more depth questions. Important points that were recognised included the need to change the funding system and simplification of subnational governance, disparities within regions and the inclusivity-productivity trade-off and local partnerships.

LIPSIT researchers also offered to present their findings at a follow-up meeting with other shadow teams political advisers e.g. education, BEIS, transport.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/project-outputs/
 
Description Meeting with Transport for the North 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Meeting with Transport for the North ( Sub national Government Body). They requested a meeting to discuss LIPSIT project recommendations on Governance and Levelling Up. They are currently gathering evidence and consulting with partners to shape the ambitions for the future of the North's economy. They are keen to use LIPSIT evidence and findings in their refresh of the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review 2016 Report (NPIER).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://lipsit.ac.uk/project-outputs/
 
Description Meeting with US ambassador 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact I was invited to a private meeting with the US ambassador regarding a potential investment by a US firm in the west midlands. explored regional value proposition
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Midlands connect 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact series of discussions with Midlands connect re measurement of productivity and connectivity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description OECD Regional Institutions and productivity: Implications for policy 10 March 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This event focused on the role of Institutions and their governance arrangements as a key determinant of economic performance and growth prospects.
Researchers and policymakers provided a range of policy perspectives on the link between regional quality of government and productivity.
LIPSIT researcher Charles Seaford was the key discussant for the talk title, Is it only government quality that matters? Governance arrangements and urban productivity in Europe
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/SPL-16th-meeting-agenda.pdf
 
Description Political Studies Association Annual Conference 29th March 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of the paper Levelling Up: A Winning Slogan or a Political Time Bomb. Paper provoked Questions, comments and discussions. These will be use to develop the LIPSIT Levelling Up Report and policy briefings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/PSA21%20Detailed%20Programme%20PDF%20%282%29.pdf
 
Description Presentation of LIPSIT Research findings to the Productivity Institute, Wales Forum meeting 18th Nov 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Key findings from the LIPSIT levelling up research was presented including solutions to challenges.

Recommendations included
• Changes to the way national and regional policy makers operate within the current system of institutions and organisations
• Modest changes to that system that policy makers responsible for the design of the system are likely to accept, and
• More radical changes to that system that could be adopted in the future.

LIPSIT Presentation was well received and several commented that it was nice to hear a presentation that focused on possible solutions and was visionary, rather than just being problem focussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://www.lipsit.ac.uk
 
Description Presentation and Discussion of Lessons from LIPSIT research to Welsh Stakeholders, 19th October 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A roundtable discussion with primarily with Welsh Stakeholders that presented key findings from the LIPSIT research, offered commentary from experts and a facilitated discussion of the challenges facing England and Wales and what steps could be taken to address them.

The roundtable provoked an open discussion on the following topics:-

1. Levelling up - threat or opportunity for Wales?
2. Metrics - what would be the right metrics to promote - individual and institutional -accountability?
3. Regional capability and capacity - spread thinly in some parts of Wales (e.g. Mid-Wales)
4. Social partnership - how do we differentiate between useful and 'inessential' collaborations
5. Behaviour and culture change - how to encourage and incentivise individually and institutionally?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://www.lipsit.ac.uk
 
Description Presentation of LIPSIT evidence to the Devolution All Party Parliamentary Group -10th March 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation of LIPSIT Evidence to the Devolution APPG and responding to APPG questions.

LIPSIT evidence cited in the final APPG report - Levelling-up Devo The role of national government in making a success of devolution in England
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://connectpa.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Levelling-up-Devo-The-role-of-national-government...
 
Description Presentation of initial findings on inward investment 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation at joint ERC / PIN event at the shard, london
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Public Affairs Conference 7-8 September 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation of the papers A Place-based System? Policy Responses to Place Based Inequalities and Strong local institutions for levelling up: lessons from federal systems.

Papers provoked questions, discussion and comments. these will be used to inform further develop the paper for submission to relevant Journals and other publications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.dmu.ac.uk/documents/schools-departments/dmu-pac-2021-book-of-abstracts-final-1sept.pdf
 
Description Work with CWLEP 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Since lockdown i have been part of a group (im a non exec) of LEP board members helping shape local industrial strategy post covid. This including elected members, private sector members and the exec. I shaped the reset strategy and advised on delivery
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description advice for midlands engine on research priorities 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Workshop for Midlands Engine exec on regions research priorities, focus on productivity, inward investment and innovation. particular challenges re levelling up, energy costs and brexit
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description engagement with midlands engine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Over the year i have had a series of meetings with midlands engine meetings, ranging from the board, to the exec and private sector stakeholders, on issues relating to levelling up, regional growth and inward investment.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description meeting with Department of transport and highways england 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact meeting with transport bodies to help their thinking on inward investment and levelling up
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description presentation to eutopia non HE sector partners 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We are part of the Eutopia university alliance. There are private / public sector partners. I did a presentation about how universities can be conduits for inward investment
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description shaping innovation accelerators in the west midlands 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact series of meetings helping to shape the approach to innovation accelerators (devolved funding) in the west midlands
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description south warwickshire 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact series of meetings advising two local councils on economic strategy in the light of their potential merger
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022