Last week, the UK Government launched a bold new vision: a £725 billion commitment over the next 10 years to reshape the nation’s infrastructure and services. This isn’t just about new bridges and better broadband (although we love those too) – it’s about unlocking economic growth, tackling regional inequalities and making all public services...

After years of lukewarm commitment, the emergence of a coherent plan to support long-term economic growth is genuinely good news. But as with any strategy trying to tackle everything, everywhere, all at once, there are layers. And beneath them? A few bubbling policy conundrums we need to talk about. AMION’s Jonathan Guest gives his take on the new Industrial...

Us economists live sheltered lives, with an abacus in one hand and a well-worn copy of the Green Book in the other. So, when a Spending Review and a Green Book consultation land on the same day, it’s basically our version of a solar eclipse. Now I’ve fully recovered from all this interplanetary excitement, I thought it only fair I attempted to unpick...

AMION were out in force at the Oxfordshire Business Awards last night, celebrating the excellence and innovation of Oxfordshire-based businesses. Coming hot on the heels of the Spending Review, the awards provided a timely reminder that the Oxford-Cambridge Arc remains firmly in the spotlight as a key driver of UK growth. At the stunning John Henry...

After months of tense political wrangling and a few moments worthy of Malcolm Tucker himself, the Spending Review has finally landed. In the latest version of our newsletter, AMION’s spending review veteran, Graham Russell, cuts through the noise to explain what it really means for economic development. Essential reading for anyone working in place-based...

We’re excited to be joining the UKREiiF fringe this Tuesday for a roundtable hosted by our friends at Hive Projects. Peter Alford, Director (and champion of all things Place Economics), will be jumping into the discussion on how public-private partnerships can unlock sites and deliver the kind of development that communities actually need – homes, jobs...

Sound the horns… AMION has been officially appointed to Nottingham City Council’s Economic Development and Communities Dynamic Purchasing System. We may not ride through the glen with bows and arrows, but we do come armed with bold strategies and a merry team ready to champion communities! We look forward to working in partnership with Nottingham over...

Exciting news from Aston Villa Football Club as it announces ambitious plans to redevelop the iconic North Stand and increase Villa Park’s capacity to over 50,000. We’ve been working closely with Aston Villa to assess the economic impact of the proposals – helping to ensure the redevelopment brings lasting benefits for the local community, economy,...

Historic England has today (Monday 17th March 2025) published AMION’s independent evaluation of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone. Developed in response to the changing use of high streets, Historic England’s innovative, heritage-led, solution demonstrates how the loosening of the grip of retail on the high street can be an opportunity to...

Green Book: if you’re a film buff, it represents the Oscar winning screenplay by Pete Farrelly.  For medical folk, it provides the latest information on vaccines. But for us economic development professionals, the Green Book often means only one thing…how do I get my project approved? When I was a young cub starting my career in Whitehall back...