📲 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...
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...
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...
💼 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...
We’re delighted that Annabel will remain connected to the GRN with the West of England as a member of the network and look forward to working with her in this capacity.
We look forward to build on this momentum and continue working with members to deliver inclusive growth & public service reform.
As we enter the next phase of our work, Ben Lucas, Executive Chair, will take on the leadership role. He said: "I want to thank Annabel for the brilliant job she has done building the GRN from the ground up. It’s been a pleasure working with her to develop the network and its programme."
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...
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 ⬇️
❄️ 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...
🏘️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...
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 report reveals '£276 billion of untapped local economic opportunity'.
Recommendations include:
💷 Sustainable funding for councils, with greater fiscal flexibility
🤝 Stronger cross-tier collaboration, including better data sharing across levels of government.
📈LGPs co-designed with councils
📄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...
The toolkit supports the policy report and international evidence review published last month, which explored available evidence on health outcomes from place-based economic development initiatives in the UK and 144 countries.
Read the evidence review 👇 growthandreform.org/resource-hub...
🔧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...
💡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...
📄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...
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⬇️
Report cover page with the Growth and Reform Network and Health Foundation logos at the top. The title of the report is: Inclusive Growth, Healthy Places: How national policy can help realise the potential for devolution
📄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...
Banner for GRN event with FGF and Equinix logo. Event is titled 'Powering Places: How the industrial strategy can deliver nationwide renewal' on Monday 29 September, 08.30-09.30 in Arena Room -Tweed, ACC Liverpool. Speakers: Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England (confirmed) Alex Bevan, former Chief of Staff to the Welsh First Minister, Research Fellow, The Future Governance Forum (confirmed) James Tyler, UK Managing Director, Equinix (confirmed) Chair: Annabel Smith, Director, Growth and Reform Network (confirmed)
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...
A job ad image for the Growth and Reform Network. Text: 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. Location: Flexible, with a London base Contract: Full time, Permanent Salary: £40,000-£45,000 FTE Deadline: 23:59 on Sunday 7th September 2025
🚨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...
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...
A job ad image for the Growth and Reform Network. Text: Operations Manager We are recruiting for an Operations Manager to oversee daily operations for our small and dynamic team, ensuring efficiency and productivity. Location: Flexible, with a London base Contract: Full time, Permanent Salary: £33,000-£35,000 FTE Deadline: 23:59 on Sunday 7th September 2025
🚨We are #hiring!
We are recruiting for an Operations Manager to oversee daily operations for our small and dynamic team, ensuring efficiency and productivity.
📍Flexible location (London base)
🗓️Deadline: 7th September
Find out more and apply 🔗
growthandreform.org/about-us/job...
A job ad image for the Growth and Reform Network. Text: 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. Location: Flexible, with a London base Contract: Full time, Permanent Salary: £40,000-£45,000 FTE Deadline: 23:59 on Sunday 7th September 2025
We are #hiring!
We are recruiting for a Senior Researcher to manage our research programme in support of inclusive growth, impactful devolution and public service reform policy.
📍Flexible location (London base)
🗓️Deadline: 7th September
Find out more and apply 🔗
growthandreform.org/about-us/job...
Image of an area of England showing different regions. Overlaid is the text: England's hidden quarter trillion. Local authorities across England are sitting on at least £276 billion of untapped economic opportunity that could be released by tackling place-specific barriers to growth.
Councils across England could unlock £276 billion of untapped economic potential with support from the government to break down place-specific barriers to growth.
That’s more than a 10th of national output.
Read more about new analysis revealed today: www.local.gov.uk/about/news/h...
