Developed by the Local Futures Group, Local Knowledge is a powerful web-based service for local strategies and marketing. Incorporating the latest thinking on competitiveness and sustainable development, it provides researchers and policy-makers with access to an unrivalled decision support tool that is interactive and easy to use.
In addition, we can provide customised SMART Observatories as local information management systems. Built on our Local Knowledge web platform, they provide a shared evidence base, for use by a range of local partner organisations.
Our web-based Local Knowledge on-line system is available on annual subscription, for use across an organisation. It provides an easy-to-use and shared evidence base, for a range of research and policy applications. Local Knowledge contains all the resources and content necessary to analyse an area's current conditions and anticipate future change. It also provides the toolkits and methodologies necessary for creating local area profiles and for shaping future strategies.
- Analyse current conditions
- Anticipate future change
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Analyse current conditions
In a fast changing global economy successful strategies need a clear understanding of local strengths and weaknesses. Drawing on an extensive database of published and proprietory Local Futures indicators, Local Knowledge helps users to analyse regional and local performance. Critically, it provides all the content, tools and methodologies necessary to create comprehensive profiles of economic, social and environmental conditions - at a regional, sub-regional and local and neighbourhood level.
Local Knowledge contains all the data and indicators necessary to analyse regional and local conditions. Content is drawn from nationally recognised sources, together with Audit Commission PIs and a range of unique Local Futures indicators (including original knowledge economy and quality of life indicators). The content is held at a regional, sub-regional, Local Authority District, ward and neighbourhood level, allowing local performance to be profiled within a national and regional context. Powerful 'search engines' allow users to quickly locate data and generate research outputs.
The Local Knowledge service incorporates an interactive 'toolkit' for analysing the data. These include mapping, ranking, comparison, profiling and change tools, for generating a comprehensive range of research outputs. The tools are easy-to-use and produce powerful graphical outputs for immediate use in reports and presentations.
Local Knowledge incorporates all the methodologies necessary for preparing local area profiles and for undertaking baseline analysis for policy and research purposes. They provide techniques for bringing the data to life and ensuring the data 'tells a story' about local conditions.
Anticipate future change
Successful strategies also need to anticipate the future. Local Knowledge provides insights into 'drivers of change', incorporating analysis of some of the key trends and forces that will affect the future of regions and localities. It includes scenarios, providing alternative views of the future, that can be applied locally.
The 'drivers of change' module of Local Knowledge analyses of 12 key forces that we believe will be influential in shaping future change. It provides analysis of underlying trends and forecasts, acting as a resource for anticipating future change at a regional and local level. Constantly updated, they combine powerful charts/graphics with supporting commentary. Outputs can be used to set a context for strategies or can be used in presentations about future change.
The Local Futures Group has developed a unique methodology for creating future scenarios. Our approach draws on our profiling and benchmarking tools, ensuring scenarios are based on a clear understanding of current conditions. However, it also shows how 'drivers of change' can be used to create future scenarios and how these can be incorporated within a strategy-build process.
Built on the Local Knowledge web platform, SMART Observatories provide a state-of-the-art solution for meeting local information needs. Using the latest internet technology they are a simple and convenient way of making spatial information available to a wide range of users. Observatories can be created for a specific city or region, or can be designed to meet specialist sector needs.
How do they work?
SMART Observatories utilise the web to link complex geographic databases to a range of easy-to-use analytical tools. Users can create thematic maps and generate league tables of the best and worst performers. They can also be used to compare local and regional performance and create local area profiles, identifying nearest neighbours.
What sort of data?
Content of the Observatories is tailored to meet specific local needs. Much of the data will be drawn from our 'Local Knowledge' database, allowing benchmarking and comparison with other parts of the country. However, some data is likely to be sourced locally - from a range of partner organisations - and designed to meet specific policy and research needs. The data is likely to be held at a variety of geographic levels, from district through to ward and neighbourhood level.
Who are they for?
All applications are simple to use and outputs are designed to bring the data and analysis to life. Access levels can be controlled by the client, with some information made available to the public and other information password protected, for use only by authorised users. SMART Observatories can be designed to meet specific policy needs, for example informing and monitoring a Regional Economic Strategy or local Sustainable Community Strategy.
Why are they important?
SMART Observatories have been designed to support a range of national and local policy needs. They act as a common information platform for use by local partners - encouraging data sharing, joined-up thinking and local e-governance. Not least they provide a simple and cost effective solution for local information management.