Blog

The Heseltine Institute blog provides a space for policymakers, practitioners and academics to share their aspirations, knowledge and policy ideas across a range of topics to influence and inform public policies for tomorrow's cities and city regions.

Blogs from our archive can be accessed here.


 

 

Unlocking social imagination: breaking free from fatalismUnlocking social imagination: breaking free from fatalism

Unlocking social imagination: breaking free from fatalism

In part two of a three-part series on social imagination, Heseltine Institute visiting fellow Mark Swift discusses the importance of tackling fatalism in public policy.

Posted on: 8 July 2025

Community organising – part of a renewed vision for higher education?Community organising – part of a renewed vision for higher education?

Community organising – part of a renewed vision for higher education?

Just over six months on from Liverpool Citizens’ Founding Assembly, this week we joined over fifty delegates from health, community, housing and education organisations from across Liverpool to hear about the progress made across towards change.

Posted on: 26 June 2025

Unlocking social imagination: reawakening the public sector’s capacity to transformUnlocking social imagination: reawakening the public sector’s capacity to transform

Unlocking social imagination: reawakening the public sector’s capacity to transform

In the first of a three-part series, Heseltine Institute visiting fellow Mark Swift discusses the importance of imagination in policy development.

Posted on: 17 June 2025

Local Growth Plans: challenges and opportunitiesLocal Growth Plans: challenges and opportunities

Local Growth Plans: challenges and opportunities

As Local Growth Plans are developed by combined authorities across England, Tom Arnold highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with developing these strategies.

Posted on: 9 May 2025

Driving growth and overcoming barriers in Liverpool City RegionDriving growth and overcoming barriers in Liverpool City Region

Driving growth and overcoming barriers in Liverpool City Region

The UK’s new Industrial Strategy is emerging at a critical moment. As the government moves from consultation to delivery, it faces mounting pressure to identify and implement solutions to unlock economic growth and accelerate the net zero transition.

Posted on: 6 May 2025

The reality of the Northern ArcThe reality of the Northern Arc

The reality of the Northern Arc

The ‘Northern Arc’ is a uniquely important area of national economic potential and performance. It has many of the positive economic and labour market characteristics of the ‘golden triangle’ (Oxford, Cambridge, London) – but without the almost insoluble problem of housing unaffordability. This part of the North is more than capable of ‘winning’ - but risks being overlooked.

Posted on: 2 May 2025

The defence dividend and the Northern ArcThe defence dividend and the Northern Arc

The defence dividend and the Northern Arc

The Prime Minister’s decision to increase UK defence spending will have significant economic consequences and is widely seen as a growth opportunity for defence contractors. Ian Wray asks what might be done to deploy the ‘defence dividend’ funding more effectively and how greater benefits could be secured for North West England especially as part of a ‘Northern Arc’.

Posted on: 25 March 2025

Shaping a city-region that works for womenShaping a city-region that works for women

Shaping a city-region that works for women

The Feminist City Network based at the University of Liverpool contributed to and chaired a panel on accelerating gender equality in Liverpool City Region at LCR Women Together’s International Women’s Day celebrations.

Posted on: 11 March 2025

Harnessing regional innovation for a dynamic UK Industrial StrategyHarnessing regional innovation for a dynamic UK Industrial Strategy

Harnessing regional innovation for a dynamic UK Industrial Strategy

The first in a series of blog posts from Heseltine Institute Policy Analyst Roger Baxter on the UK Government's recent Industrial Strategy Green Paper.

Posted on: 27 February 2025

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