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At Local Futures we continuously update our site and brief you on new developments and our latest work. You can be regularly updated on these changes by using your RSS reader.

Our latest news is divided into the latest updates on our research programme and developments in our client services.

Upcoming events

 

Friday 10 July 2009

Special OAC event - in association with the LGA

This exclusive event will take place on Friday 10 July 2009 and focuses on the Output Area Classification and its potential uses. The Local Futures Group is proud to have gained the support of the LGA and the OAC usergroup.

We have embedded the Output Area Classification (OAC) into Local Knowledge. The OAC typologies enable you to easily summarise the characteristics of differing local neighbourhoods. They can for example help you identify areas that are extra vulnerable to worklessness or possible lower income streams as a result of the downturn. The OAC typologies can therefore help you target your limited resources and relevant services more effectively.

Date to be confirmed

Next Network event - Connected Places

Our next network event will be on Connected Places. We will update you as soon as we have more details.

Please email events@localfutures.com to secure your place.

Events Calendar

 

Latest Local Futures work

MapTube

We're pleased to announce that all future maps featured in our monthly barometers are now available to view on UCL's Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis MapTube website. MapTube is a free resource for viewing, sharing, mixing and mashing maps online. Created by CASA, users can select any number of maps to overlay and view. To view Local Futures' latest maps visit here

Unemployment and the Credit Crunch

Our latest Barometer focuses on the topic of unemployment, in the context of the current "credit crunch". By analysing labour market data, in conjunction with data on the industrial structure of an area, we are able to measure the rate of growth in unemployment at a district level, rank these districts nationally, and then discuss the potential causes of disproportionately high growth in the worst affected districts.

'Rural south hit hardest by unemployment rise' - 21/11/08

Berkshire Strategy for Sustainable Economic Prosperity

The Local Futures Group is working with the six Berkshire unitary authorities to create a sub-regional Strategy for Sustainable Economic Prosperity. The project demonstrates local areas taking the lead in delivering the Sub National Review and its recommendations for wider partnership working, particularly regarding local economic development.

The first phase of the project culminated in the production of a State of the Sub-Region Report, which was launched at a major event in January 2008. Attended by members and partners from across Berkshire, the event highlighted the key strategic priority themes to be addressed, and agreed a work programme to refine and develop the strategy. This final phase will include futures and scenario development, and an extensive proofing exercise with each of the districts.

The State of the Sub-Region Report can be downloaded here [warning: large file size]

Please contact the Local Futures Group for further information on the project.

The State of the London Boroughs - Place-Shaping Tool-kit

A major report on the State of the London Boroughs has been launched as part of a 'place-shaping tool-kit' for the capital. Sponsored by Capital Ambition, the report is accompanied by 33 Borough Profiles, summarising the findings for each of the individual local authorities. The tool-kit contains other resources and is also designed to inform work on Sustainable Community Strategies and LAAs, as well as the wider place-shaping agenda.

Click here to download the full report; to find out more about the project, please visit the Capital Ambition website.

Latest LFG services

Local Futures Network

Our Local Futures Network, established in 2005, now has more than 100 members and has established itself as a unique learning network of organisations interested in global-local change. Formed originally as the Knowledge Economy Network, it has now adopted a much wider remit. While the knowledge economy remains a central theme, its coverage has been extended to cover other important 'drivers of change' that are likely to impact on the future of regions, cities and localities in Britain. Not least, its focus has been adapted to respond to the emerging 'place shaping' agenda.

As a result and in response to member comments, we have introduced a wider range of services for subscribers:

Our seminar programme will continue, but will explore a wider range of issues, covering economic, social, technological and environmental change.

Our web services have been enhanced and now include a wider range of intelligence and resources. These include policy and research documents, a library of local strategies, web links, our monthly barometers and a new 'future trends' service.

In addition to our regular newsletters, subscribers will receive online feeds of information of interest to our members. 

We will continue to develop and promote syndicated research programes of research of interest to our members.

If you would like to know more about the Local Futures Network please contact us or email info@localfutures.com

Place Profiles
 

Place Profiles are electronically generated reports that provide a high-level analysis of an area. Reports can be generated on a range of issues, in combination providing a comprehensive assessment of local conditions. Reports can be created for the following economic, social and environmental themes:

  • Economy: scale; productivity; growth; industrial structure; business and enterprise; skills and qualifications; labour market
  • Society: demographics (age; ethnicity; households; migration and change); occupations; prosperity; deprivation; health; change
  • Environment: housing; commercial & industrial floorspace; transport; local amenities; natural environment

The report draws on the latest data from over 100 recognised sources and can be generated at a number of different spatial levels.

  • Sub-region - covering around 50 counties/sub regions
  • District - covering around 400 Local Authority Districts
  • Ward - covering around 10,000 Local Authority Wards

Place Profiles set an area within its wider regional/sub-regional context, comparing performance against neighbouring areas, as well as regional and national averages. they are illustrated with maps and charts and include all the data and indicators underpinning the analysis. The reports also analyse underlying trends and identify statistical nearest neighbours.

For further information click here

Expanded Local Knowledge service

Our new Local Knowledge service transforms our well established geographical intelligence system into a state of the art toolkit for driving forward Britain's place shaping agenda. It contains all the content, analytical tools and methodologies necessary for understanding current conditions and anticipating future change.

Benchmarking 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 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.

Anticipating future change: But successful strategies also need to anticipate future change and identify new opportunities and threats. In addition Local Knowledge now helps users to 'anticipate the future' by providing insights into 'drivers of change', incorporating analysis of some of the key trends and forces that will shape future prospects. It includes future scenarios, providing alternative views of long-term futures, that can be applied locally.

Local Futures Network: A subscription to Local Knowledge now also includes membership of our Local Futures Network, itself providing access to a range of research, resources and workshops designed to provide original insights into global-local change. Not least it provides access to a network of organisations committed to sharing experience and developing innovative approaches to developing local strategies and marketing.

If you would like to know more about our new Local Knowledge on-line service please contact us or email info@localfutures.com.

What is an RSS feed?

A "feed" is a summary of Web content that is updated on a regular basis. Before you subscribe to a feed, you'll need an RSS reader or aggregator to view content in RSS. This is very easy if you are using IE7 or Firefox; you should see an illuminated RSS feed button in your menubar. Click on that button when you are on our homepage, and our website has been added to your RSS feed.

If you are using a different web browser, you will first need to download an RSS reader. Several free and commercial RSS readers are available on the Internet. Once you have an RSS reader, simply right-click on an RSS link, copy the URL, and paste it into your reader to display the content in RSS.

Feeds help www.localfutures.com make content more accessible, and they allow you to easily see new content. A summary or "headline" view lets you quickly scan recent content changes, and headlines are linked to their appropriate content.


To subscribe to our RSS feed, simply:

  • Drag and drop the button into your RSS reader, or
  • Click on the link, then cut and paste the URL into your RSS reader.

If you don't have a reader, or would like to learn more about RSS, visit the BBC's 'What is RSS?' web page.

Please report any RSS technical issues to web@localfutures.com.