Mike Spicer
@mikespicer-pd.bsky.social
Managing Director of consultancy PolicyDepartment. We empower the civic-minded organisations that invest in enterprise programmes, industrial strategy, and local economic development.
What does it take to turn a 50km stretch of Scotland’s Firth of Forth into a hub for sustainable growth? CEO Sarah Murray gives LED Confidential podcast the inside track on Forth Green Freeport.
January 21, 2026 at 7:31 AM
What does it take to turn a 50km stretch of Scotland’s Firth of Forth into a hub for sustainable growth? CEO Sarah Murray gives LED Confidential podcast the inside track on Forth Green Freeport.
Can Scotland’s Green Freeports deliver inclusive growth and a just transition? David Marlow and I talk to Sarah Murray, CEO of Forth Green Freeport, about one of the UK’s most ambitious economic and environmental programmes. Now on all good podcast platforms, or via the LED Confidential website!
January 16, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Can Scotland’s Green Freeports deliver inclusive growth and a just transition? David Marlow and I talk to Sarah Murray, CEO of Forth Green Freeport, about one of the UK’s most ambitious economic and environmental programmes. Now on all good podcast platforms, or via the LED Confidential website!
What will define local economic development for the UK in 2026? At the #LEDConfidential podcast David Marlow and I have made our predictions...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
January 9, 2026 at 11:30 AM
What will define local economic development for the UK in 2026? At the #LEDConfidential podcast David Marlow and I have made our predictions...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
What will define local economic development for the UK in 2026? In our latest #LEDConfidential episode, David Marlow and I share our predictions...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
January 7, 2026 at 11:31 AM
What will define local economic development for the UK in 2026? In our latest #LEDConfidential episode, David Marlow and I share our predictions...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
In our last #LEDConfidential episode of the year, David Marlow and I reflect on the key moments of 2025 and what they signal for the year to come.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector this year?
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector this year?
December 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
In our last #LEDConfidential episode of the year, David Marlow and I reflect on the key moments of 2025 and what they signal for the year to come.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector this year?
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector this year?
What defined local economic development in 2025? In our last #LEDConfidential episode of the year, David Marlow and I reflect on the key moments of 2025 and what they signal for the year to come.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector
December 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
What defined local economic development in 2025? In our last #LEDConfidential episode of the year, David Marlow and I reflect on the key moments of 2025 and what they signal for the year to come.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
💬 What were your biggest moments for the sector
🚨 #LEDConfidential Blog: Innovation Districts 2.0🚨
Check out David Marlow's big takeaways from our recent episode with Dr Michael Glass on promoting inclusive innovation in places 👇
Check out David Marlow's big takeaways from our recent episode with Dr Michael Glass on promoting inclusive innovation in places 👇
What is ID2.0 and how can innovation districts become inclusive growth flagships?
Discover how the ID2.0 framework empowers innovation districts to deliver inclusive growth. By prioritising community engagement, leadership, and strategic alignment, ID2.0 helps cities balance innovation with equity, ensuring benefits reach all communities—not just a select few. Learn more about actionable strategies for inclusive innovation.
www.ledconfidential.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
🚨 #LEDConfidential Blog: Innovation Districts 2.0🚨
Check out David Marlow's big takeaways from our recent episode with Dr Michael Glass on promoting inclusive innovation in places 👇
Check out David Marlow's big takeaways from our recent episode with Dr Michael Glass on promoting inclusive innovation in places 👇
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode looks at the 'ID 2.0' model of innovation districts (IDs) and how cities like Newcastle upon Tyne, Pittsburgh, Medellin, and Belfast are embedding inclusion as an operating principle into their IDs 👇
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
December 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode looks at the 'ID 2.0' model of innovation districts (IDs) and how cities like Newcastle upon Tyne, Pittsburgh, Medellin, and Belfast are embedding inclusion as an operating principle into their IDs 👇
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
David Marlow and I chat with Dr. Michael Glass of the University of Pittsburgh about 'ID 2.0', a model for embedding inclusion into the DNA of innovation districts. We explore case studies from across the world 👇
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
December 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
David Marlow and I chat with Dr. Michael Glass of the University of Pittsburgh about 'ID 2.0', a model for embedding inclusion into the DNA of innovation districts. We explore case studies from across the world 👇
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes/epi...
🚨 New #LEDConfidential Blog: Autumn Budget 2025 – Pushing the Fiscal Frontiers 🚨
Check out David Marlow's analysis of the five big issues, delivery challenges, and opportunities ahead for local economic development in the UK following Budget 2025 👇
Check out David Marlow's analysis of the five big issues, delivery challenges, and opportunities ahead for local economic development in the UK following Budget 2025 👇
Autumn Budget 2025: pushing the fiscal frontiers and the delivery challenge of devolution's new divide?
Autumn Budget 2025 includes some important measures to kickstart fiscal devolution in England and cements Mayoral Strategic Authorities as the “gold standard” for devolution, creating new opportunities and risks for local economic development across the UK
www.ledconfidential.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 11:31 AM
🚨 New #LEDConfidential Blog: Autumn Budget 2025 – Pushing the Fiscal Frontiers 🚨
Check out David Marlow's analysis of the five big issues, delivery challenges, and opportunities ahead for local economic development in the UK following Budget 2025 👇
Check out David Marlow's analysis of the five big issues, delivery challenges, and opportunities ahead for local economic development in the UK following Budget 2025 👇
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode unpacks what Budget 2025 means for those working in local economic development and placemaking. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
December 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode unpacks what Budget 2025 means for those working in local economic development and placemaking. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
Budget 2025: the dawn of fiscal devolution in England? I our latest LEDC podcast episode, David Marlow and I discuss the measures that could kickstart fiscal devolution in England.
👉 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
#FiscalDevolution #LocalGrowth #PlaceMaking #LEDC #Budget2025
👉 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
#FiscalDevolution #LocalGrowth #PlaceMaking #LEDC #Budget2025
December 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Budget 2025: the dawn of fiscal devolution in England? I our latest LEDC podcast episode, David Marlow and I discuss the measures that could kickstart fiscal devolution in England.
👉 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
#FiscalDevolution #LocalGrowth #PlaceMaking #LEDC #Budget2025
👉 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/1t7x...
#FiscalDevolution #LocalGrowth #PlaceMaking #LEDC #Budget2025
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers recent developments in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor story. Some teasers here and links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers recent developments in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor story. Some teasers here and links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
Can the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor become Europe’s Silicon Valley? In our latest #LEDConfidential Espresso Shot episode, David Marlow and I explore the UK Government’s £500m investment package in the corridor.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Can the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor become Europe’s Silicon Valley? In our latest #LEDConfidential Espresso Shot episode, David Marlow and I explore the UK Government’s £500m investment package in the corridor.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
Proud to join @city-redi.bsky.social as an associate. I’ve long admired their work to better understand local economies, but also to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas among those working in and on local economic development, something my connections will know I’m super passionate about!
Celebrating Our New City-REDI Associates
We are pleased to announce our new City-REDI Associates, who will join a vibrant community of researchers and policy experts working on some of the most pressing challenges facing cities and regions today.
Meet our new associates - https://ow.ly/a86l50XuzJa
We are pleased to announce our new City-REDI Associates, who will join a vibrant community of researchers and policy experts working on some of the most pressing challenges facing cities and regions today.
Meet our new associates - https://ow.ly/a86l50XuzJa
November 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Proud to join @city-redi.bsky.social as an associate. I’ve long admired their work to better understand local economies, but also to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas among those working in and on local economic development, something my connections will know I’m super passionate about!
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode explores the role and potential of water utilities in local economic development with Scottish Water CEO Alex Plant. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode explores the role and potential of water utilities in local economic development with Scottish Water CEO Alex Plant. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
Can water utilities be drivers of inclusive growth and climate resilience? David Marlow and I are joined on #LEDConfidential by Scottish Water CEO Alex Plant to discuss the transformative potential of the industry's £110bn of planned investment for the UK.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Can water utilities be drivers of inclusive growth and climate resilience? David Marlow and I are joined on #LEDConfidential by Scottish Water CEO Alex Plant to discuss the transformative potential of the industry's £110bn of planned investment for the UK.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and what it means for local economic development. Links to bonus materials 👇🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
November 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and what it means for local economic development. Links to bonus materials 👇🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
In our new #LEDConfidential episode, David Marlow and I unpack the UK Govt’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and what it means for local economic development and Local Skills Improvement Plans. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LSIPs #LocalEconomicDevelopment
#LSIPs #LocalEconomicDevelopment
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
In our new #LEDConfidential episode, David Marlow and I unpack the UK Govt’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and what it means for local economic development and Local Skills Improvement Plans. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LSIPs #LocalEconomicDevelopment
#LSIPs #LocalEconomicDevelopment
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers the final report ot The New Towns Taskforce. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
October 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode covers the final report ot The New Towns Taskforce. Links to bonus materials 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
In our new #LEDConfidential podcast episode David Marlow and I unpack the final report of The New Towns Taskforce. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#NewTowns #EconomicDevelopment #Placemaking #HousingPolicy #Infrastructure #LocalGov
#NewTowns #EconomicDevelopment #Placemaking #HousingPolicy #Infrastructure #LocalGov
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
In our new #LEDConfidential podcast episode David Marlow and I unpack the final report of The New Towns Taskforce. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#NewTowns #EconomicDevelopment #Placemaking #HousingPolicy #Infrastructure #LocalGov
#NewTowns #EconomicDevelopment #Placemaking #HousingPolicy #Infrastructure #LocalGov
Our latest #LEDConfidential episode is on Local Government Reorganisation in England - some teasers here and signposting to bonus material 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Our latest #LEDConfidential episode is on Local Government Reorganisation in England - some teasers here and signposting to bonus material 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
17 unitary authority proposals from just four areas...In a new #LEDConfidential podcast episode, David Marlow and I take stock of LGR in England. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
October 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
17 unitary authority proposals from just four areas...In a new #LEDConfidential podcast episode, David Marlow and I take stock of LGR in England. 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
#LocalGov #Devolution #EconomicDevelopment
In our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode David Marlow and I explore the UK Government's #PrideInPlace programme. Some teasers here with signposting to bonus briefings 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
October 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode David Marlow and I explore the UK Government's #PrideInPlace programme. Some teasers here with signposting to bonus briefings 👇 🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
In our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode published today, David Marlow and I explore the #PrideInPlace programme—its ambitions, its gaps, and its potential to reshape local economic development.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
October 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In our latest #LEDConfidential podcast episode published today, David Marlow and I explore the #PrideInPlace programme—its ambitions, its gaps, and its potential to reshape local economic development.
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes
🎧 Listen now: www.ledconfidential.co.uk/episodes