Using evidence and intelligence in local and regional economic development

Evidence-based policy needs evidence

I’ve worked for 30 years as a senior professional and leader in economic development and regeneration, a significant part of my day job in the early years involved using and interpreting evidence and intelligence, including setting up and managing teams to do this.

This article is part of the professional development series of articles and videos I have been putting out, which aim to set out foundational knowledge for people who are new to the field, or are perhaps local politicians who have picked up the ‘local economy’ portfolio.

Before we move onto the video link and the text summary below, what I want to highlight at this stage is a perplexing issue.

“Give me something I can read on the bus on the way to work”

I still think it is valid to say that most policy makers and practitioners are not economist or analysts, nor will they ever be. Many organisations recognise this and have a range of publications and summaries which are well written with high-level headlines and statements which tell us what the evidence base means.

What most folks want is a trusted source of insight, that is easy to grasp and spells out some of the implications. As I’ve written elsewhere – a data dashboard is insufficient, you need to provide the insight, headlines and tell people what it means.

S1E5 video: Using evidence and intelligence in local and regional economic development - is available on the link below

There is a mobile phone friendly version here .

The Importance of Evidence in Local and Regional Economic Development

The Role of Evidence and Analysis

Evidence and analysis are essential for understanding local economies, identifying challenges and opportunities, and informing strategic decision-making. It is important to ask the right questions about your locality or region’s economy, such as its strengths, weaknesses, and growth potential. By gathering and analysing data on industries, employment, and demographics, policymakers can develop targeted strategies and interventions.

Building an Evidence Base

Creating a robust evidence base requires a combination of internal expertise and external collaboration. While some organisations have dedicated research teams, others may rely on consultants or academic partnerships. Typical reports or outputs include regular economic reviews, sector-specific studies, and labour market analysis. Additionally, establishing a public-facing platform such as an observatory or dashboard for sharing research findings can enhance transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Skills and Expertise

Effectively utilising evidence requires some specific skill sets. Statisticians, economists, and data analysts play crucial roles in processing, analysing, and interpreting data. It is useful if economic development professionals have a basic understanding of data and research methods to effectively communicate findings and translate them into actionable insights, but often this isn't the case.

Most policy makers and practitioners are not economist or analysts, nor will they ever be: “Give me something I can read on the bus on the way to work”

Over 20 years ago I was the main labour market specialist working with Careers Scotland, an organisation with 1200 staff. I was in charge of helping them with labour market intelligence. This was very revealing, after we conducted a lot of meetings and focus groups with staff about how to design and deliver meaningful and useful labour market intelligence and information to help keep them informed about the labour market and to improve the relevance and accuracy of their own careers advice and information. Some key learning points:

• Most policy makers and practitioners are not economist or analysts, nor will they ever be. Statistical tables, charts, whether on paper or on a fancy online dashboard – are meaningless to 99% of professionals. They can’t process the data themselves, it's not in their skill set or their day-job
• “Give me something I can read on the bus on the way to work” was what one of the senior stakeholders told me. i.e. spell out what’s happening and what it means in plain English
• A lot of people have an out-dated understanding of the modern jobs and labour market, including parents, and decisions for young people are being made on this basis. Clearly – a job to do in bringing this up to date
• So the answer, for us was to break up the insights into meaningful chunks; to have regular updates, in easy to read formats, and to work with some expert copywriters to get short stories into the national press that would be read by parents and other decision-makers
• We also build an LMI module into the NVQ4 training course for careers advisors to bring them bang up to date as part of their professional development

Luckily I learnt this all at an early stage in my career and it has helped to mould my skill set further into strategy, policy and management, to be very good at communicating ideas, decisions and issues in a structured way where people feel informed and involved.

Communicating Evidence Effectively

Communicating research findings in a clear and accessible manner is very important. Tailoring messages to different audiences is essential, whether it's policymakers, business leaders, or the general public. Effective communication involves translating complex data into compelling narratives that highlight the implications for the region's economic future.

Building a Culture of Evidence

To fully realise the benefits of evidence-based decision-making, organisations need to cultivate a culture that values data and analysis. This includes investing in staff development, establishing clear research priorities, and creating a supportive environment for evidence-based policy. By embedding evidence into the core of decision-making and economic development practice, organisations can improve their ability to achieve positive outcomes for their communities.

In conclusion, evidence has a critical role in understanding and addressing regional economic disparities. By investing in data collection, analysis, ideally a research programme and communication, policymakers and practitioners can make more informed decisions, optimise resource allocation, and ultimately improve the economic well-being of their communities.

If you want to browse the videos currently released

Click here to view the youtube podcast site . Or click on the podcast menu item above to access the videos. Videos will be released over the next few months (June-September 2024). There is also a mobile phone friendly version on the youtube shorts site .

I help build great economic development and public sector organisations

Glenn Athey is a leading economic development and regeneration professional and senior executive with a 30-year track record of successful leadership, delivery, networks, and practical knowledge acquired working in senior roles in government agencies, partnership organisations and UK think tanks.

Glenn helps local leaders translate their economic ambitions into winning advocacy and solutions that get funded.

Get in touch via LinkedIn messaging or call 07799880137. Full contact details here .