The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
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clesthinkdo.bsky.social
The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
@clesthinkdo.bsky.social
CLES is the national organisation for local economies. We're working towards a future where local economies benefit people, place and the planet.

🔗 cles.org.uk
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We are proud to announce that our Chief Executive, Dr @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 👏

www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
💬 What if the local economy truly worked for local people?

Community Wealth Building (CWB) is about building shared prosperity—right here in East Lothian.

✨ Follow along as we explore the pillars of CWB over the next two weeks.

bit.ly/EastLothianCWB

#CommunityWealthBuilding #EastLothian #CWB
November 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The new Pride in Place programme represents an opportunity to rebuild local civic and economic infrastructure with long-term financial support 🏘️

We’ve mapped the areas receiving funding 📍

Simon Grove-White writes 🖊️

cles.org.uk/blog/pride-i...
November 5, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The design of the business rates reset and multi-year settlements must match the rhetoric: we need a social infrastructure stabiliser.

Simrin Rahman writes for Public Finance magazine ⤵️

www.publicfinance.co.uk/opinion/2025...
The business rates reset risk | Public Finance
Simrin Rahman looks at what needs to happen alongside the Business Rates Retention Scheme reset to take advantage of the opportunity to deliver public value. - Short form article, Local government set...
www.publicfinance.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Mayors, council leaders, councillors and officers need to work with their local partners to redraw the economic rules and empower their communities 💪

Tom Lloyd Goodwin writes for The MJ ⤵️

www.themj.co.uk/local-growth...
Why local growth promotes unity
Community cohesion is formed in places, so while national direction is awaited, social cohesion – the bonds that bind and strengthen the UK – are under immense pressure....
www.themj.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"Can the Budget be a line in the sand where the Gov unleashes a new era of political empathy with difficulties such as paying the bills, having secure, well-paid work, somewhere to live, accessing services & getting care for loved ones?"

✒️ @sarahlonglands.bsky.social writes: www.themj.co.uk/new-era
A new era?
While for many working in policy, the forthcoming Budget is a key milestone in the political cycle, for most people it happens to them and then they are told how...
www.themj.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
100% agree strategic authorities should have a duty to target inclusive growth.
The English Devo Bill could rewire economies for people. With @sianberry.bsky.social we're tabling three improvements:

🪙 New clause 31: Community wealth building
❤️ Amendment 255: Health & wellbeing in all policies
🤝 New schedule 1 & new clause 29: Inclusive economies

✒️ cles.org.uk/blog/lets-do...
October 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The English Devo Bill could rewire economies for people. With @sianberry.bsky.social we're tabling three improvements:

🪙 New clause 31: Community wealth building
❤️ Amendment 255: Health & wellbeing in all policies
🤝 New schedule 1 & new clause 29: Inclusive economies

✒️ cles.org.uk/blog/lets-do...
October 20, 2025 at 10:54 AM
What happens when CLES and London Anchor Institutions' Network bring together the people behind the UK's anchor networks? 🤝

You get insights! 💡

Check out this new blog from Conrad Parke setting out five insightful observations about anchor networks ⚓

cles.org.uk/blog/five-le...
October 20, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
We hear a lot about the gender pay gap, but what about the gender wealth gap?

UK wealth analysis by @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social shows that, on average, men hold around £78k more wealth than women - that's a gap of 21%!

Here @ignaciapinto.bsky.social explains more👇
neweconomics.org/2025/09/taxi...
Taxing wealth is a feminist issue
We hear a lot about the gender pay gap - but what about the gender wealth gap?
neweconomics.org
October 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
🚨 New regional analysis of Pride in Place funding 🚨

We've crunched the numbers and found that the North is set to be a major benefactor of the government’s Pride in Place fund 🧮

Read all about it in today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social 📫

newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/-rESDdIxHn7C...
October 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
🚨 Exciting new hire announcement

🎉 We're thrilled to welcome Evelyn Henderson-Child to CLES

🌳 Evelyn previously led a community wealth building initiative in north Edinburgh, all while completing an MSc in Ecological Economics

cles.org.uk/about-cles/p...
October 17, 2025 at 7:33 AM
We are proud to announce that our Chief Executive, Dr @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 👏

www.gov.uk/government/n...
October 16, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
One of the things I love best in my job is getting out to meet people in person.
So I was delighted to meet with Gareth Hughes from @weallaotearoa.bsky.social earlier today.
We talked about the opportunity of CWB to reach the destination of a fairer & flourishing economy where wellbeing is central.
October 15, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
I am so honoured to have been nominated for the inaugural Smart Thinking awards!

I love my job, but forever deal with self doubt & imposter syndrome. So being nominated is a real boost.

Like all awards, it is the wider team which makes any opportunity possible, so big shout out to all at CLES.
October 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Social value in Westminster is on the up! 🆙

Our analysis for @citywestminster.bsky.social finds growth in jobs, volunteering, donations & local spend. Social value is now core strategy, driven by partnerships, youth engagement & Fairer Westminster goals 👇

www.westminster.gov.uk/fairer-econo...
Social Value Impact Report | Westminster City Council
Read our Social Value Impact Report for 2024/25.
www.westminster.gov.uk
October 15, 2025 at 9:36 AM
We have nominated @oliver-chan.bsky.social for Researcher of the Year at the inaugural @smartthinking.bsky.social Think Tank Awards 🌟

Oliver brings rigour, collaboration, and an evidence-led approach to everything he does. His research leadership is actively shaping stronger local economies 👏
October 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
We have nominated @naomimason.bsky.social for the Think Tanker of the year at the inaugural @smartthinking.bsky.social Think Tank Awards 🌟

Naomi is a powerful voice in Scottish politics and economics, and a leading advocate for Community Wealth Building 👏
October 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Congratulations to our friends at @cooperativesuk.bsky.social and all in the UK's co-op & mutual economy 👏

✅ 82% survive 5+ years (vs 39% of other biz)
✅ 65.7m memberships
✅ Women lead 2x more top co-ops than FTSE 100 firms
✅ 4x more likely to pay the Living Wage
✅ Community pubs up 51% in 5 years
📢 New data out today: The UK’s co-operative and mutual economy is a £179bn force for change.
10,000+ businesses. 1.5 million jobs.
Find out why our movement is doing business better - and share far and wide: www.uk.coop/news/record-... #CoopEconomy #Coops
October 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
I really enjoyed my time at the SNP party conference yesterday. It was my first time at a political conference and I was struck by the conversations had, the views heard and the energy in some of the fringe events. Thanks to @futureeconscot.bsky.social & @ipprscotland.bsky.social for your events.
October 13, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
It's been a busy week giving interviews on the Jaguar Land Rover car plant shutdown crisis for @lbc.co.uk, Global Radio North West and Radio Liverpool 1/
When one company – like Jaguar Land Rover – dominates a local economy, its crisis can ripple through communities 🌊

@oliver-chan.bsky.social spoke to @lbc.co.uk's Jonathan Ray about the impact of the JLR hack + how we need to build resilient, locally rooted economies 📻 ⤵️
October 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
📢 New hire news!

🤝 Please join us in welcoming Simon Grove-White to CLES as our new Senior Researcher

🔎 Simon joins us fresh from leading a project with the Cooperative Councils Innovation Network (CCIN), looking at community wealth building & cooperative placemaking

cles.org.uk/about-cles/p...
October 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
When one company – like Jaguar Land Rover – dominates a local economy, its crisis can ripple through communities 🌊

@oliver-chan.bsky.social spoke to @lbc.co.uk's Jonathan Ray about the impact of the JLR hack + how we need to build resilient, locally rooted economies 📻 ⤵️
October 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
This week at #Lab25 we co-hosted an event with Co-ops UK, @neweconomics.bsky.social & @thrivingplaces.bsky.social on Mayors resisting the far right🎤

Our 🌟 panel: Mayor Claire Ward, @dhnnjyn.bsky.social, @cathyab.bsky.social, @nickplumb.bsky.social + @lizzeidler.bsky.social in chair

Our takeaways🧵
October 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
At #LabourPartyConference today? Concerned about the rise of the far right? At 2pm, our CEO Liz will chair a panel event from RORE (Reclaiming Our Regional Economies), asking how Mayors can halt the rise of populism. @clesthinkdo.bsky.social @neweconomics.bsky.social @cooperativesuk.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)
JOIN US TOMORROW at #LabourConference!

Reclaiming our regions: how mayors can resist the rise of the far right

🕑 Mon 29 Sept, 2-2:45pm
📍 Exhibition Event Hub, ECL

w/ RORE partners @thrivingplaces.bsky.social @cooperativesuk.bsky.social @clesthinkdo.bsky.social

👉 neweconomics.org/2025/09/nef-...
September 28, 2025 at 7:43 AM