Chair: Ceri Hughes, Lead Researcher, Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, University of Manchester Contributors: Cllr. Sean Fielding, Leader, Oldham Council Andrew O’Brien, Director of External Affairs, Social Enterprise UK Ruth Breidenbach-Roe, Policy Manager, Locality This session will look at what needs to change for local economic policies to focus on benefiting everyone. What is the potential to develop a “foundational economy” approach in the context of the Local Industrial Strategy? How could we make this an integral part of the strategy? How would this sit alongside other developments? What should a local economic strategy include to harness the power of co-operatives and social enterprises? In the context of Brexit, how should the proposed Shared Prosperity Fund be invested? Ceri is a Researcher at the University of Manchester, and was lead researcher in the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, a partnership between the University and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation between 2016 and 2019. Her research has explored the potential to integrate economic and social policy making in the context of city-region devolution with a focus on Greater Manchester. She is also a member of the steering group for the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, and is co-author of a new report taking stock of progress towards inclusive growth in the city-region. As leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Sean Fielding is unapologetically ambitious for the borough, attracting businesses, jobs and wealth, while fighting for residents’ rights and taking on the challenges Oldham faces. His priorities include building up education in the borough so every school is good or outstanding, creating new opportunities for young people to gain skills and confidence, and delivering homes so that Oldham is a place they can choose to stay in as they get older. Sean leads on Education, Skills and Apprenticeships for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. His portfolio includes the devolved Adult Education Budget, GM Working Well (Greater Manchester’s work and health programme), careers and enterprise advice and guidance, digital skills, T-levels, support for older workers, and the GM Apprenticeship Grant for Employers. Sean is the son of a local bus driver and a council worker. Having grown up in Failsworth, he has served his home ward of Failsworth West since 2012. In 2013, he was jointly named the LGiU Young Councillor of the Year alongside fellow Assistant Cabinet Members Amanda Chadderton and Arooj Shah (who is now Deputy Leader). Sean is a member of the Labour Party, the Co-operative party and UNISON. Now 30, he became the youngest-ever leader of Oldham Council on appointment in May 2018. Andrew O’Brien is Director of External Affairs at Social Enterprise UK. He started his career in politics, working as a parliamentary researcher before joining the charity sector. Andrew held various roles in charities before joining Social Enterprise UK as Director of External Affairs in 2018 and, since then, has worked on various campaigns and policy issues related to public procurement, tax and economic reform. Ruth Breidenbach-Roe is the policy manager at Locality, the national membership network supporting local community organisations to be strong and successful. Ruth leads Locality’s work on localism, including the Commission on the Future of Localism which called for the transfer of power, decision-making and resources to communities. Ruth previously worked on political strategy for the National Union of Students (NUS) and has recently been on secondment as a policy advisor at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Chair: Ceri Hughes, Lead Researcher, Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, University of Manchester Contributors: Cllr. Sean Fielding, Leader, Oldham Council Andrew O’Brien, Director of External Affairs, Social Enterprise UK Ruth Breidenbach-Roe, Policy Manager, Locality This session will look at what needs to change for local economic policies to focus on benefiting everyone. What is the potential to develop a “foundational economy” approach in the context of the Local Industrial Strategy? How could we make this an integral part of the strategy? How would this sit alongside other developments? What should a local economic strategy include to harness the power of co-operatives and social enterprises? In the context of Brexit, how should the proposed Shared Prosperity Fund be invested? Ceri is a Researcher at the University of Manchester, and was lead researcher in the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, a partnership between the University and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation between 2016 and 2019. Her research has explored the potential to integrate economic and social policy making in the context of city-region devolution with a focus on Greater Manchester. She is also a member of the steering group for the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, and is co-author of a new report taking stock of progress towards inclusive growth in the city-region. As leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Sean Fielding is unapologetically ambitious for the borough, attracting businesses, jobs and wealth, while fighting for residents’ rights and taking on the challenges Oldham faces. His priorities include building up education in the borough so every school is good or outstanding, creating new opportunities for young people to gain skills and confidence, and delivering homes so that Oldham is a place they can choose to stay in as they get older. Sean leads on Education, Skills and Apprenticeships for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. His portfolio includes the devolved Adult Education Budget, GM Working Well (Greater Manchester’s work and health programme), careers and enterprise advice and guidance, digital skills, T-levels, support for older workers, and the GM Apprenticeship Grant for Employers. Sean is the son of a local bus driver and a council worker. Having grown up in Failsworth, he has served his home ward of Failsworth West since 2012. In 2013, he was jointly named the LGiU Young Councillor of the Year alongside fellow Assistant Cabinet Members Amanda Chadderton and Arooj Shah (who is now Deputy Leader). Sean is a member of the Labour Party, the Co-operative party and UNISON. Now 30, he became the youngest-ever leader of Oldham Council on appointment in May 2018. Andrew O’Brien is Director of External Affairs at Social Enterprise UK. He started his career in politics, working as a parliamentary researcher before joining the charity sector. Andrew held various roles in charities before joining Social Enterprise UK as Director of External Affairs in 2018 and, since then, has worked on various campaigns and policy issues related to public procurement, tax and economic reform. Ruth Breidenbach-Roe is the policy manager at Locality, the national membership network supporting local community organisations to be strong and successful. Ruth leads Locality’s work on localism, including the Commission on the Future of Localism which called for the transfer of power, decision-making and resources to communities. Ruth previously worked on political strategy for the National Union of Students (NUS) and has recently been on secondment as a policy advisor at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).