A New Partnership for a New Era of Place-Based Economic Development
The Good Economy (TGE) and Mickledore are proud to announce a new partnership that brings together our respective expertise to advance the field of place-based impact investing (PBII). This partnership marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to promoting sustainable economic development across the UK.
A Watershed Moment for UK Economic Development
The UK is at a critical juncture in its economic development journey. The old models of economic growth that have driven our economy for decades are no longer sustainable. We need a radically new approach that addresses the deep-rooted social and spatial inequalities that persist in our communities.
PBII offers a promising pathway to achieving more inclusive and equitable economic development. It is a holistic approach that aligns investments with the specific needs and priorities of local communities, connecting capital to place.
Mickledore brings to this partnership decades of experience in regional economic development. They have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that different regions face, and a proven track record of delivering successful economic development work for public sector clients as well as funding and strategy work for private sector clients.
The Good Economy is a pioneer in the field of PBII. We have developed a comprehensive framework for place-based impact investing and we have a growing track record of success in implementing PBII projects. TGE is recognised as the thought leader in PBII and is uniquely placed to facilitate a constructive dialogue between stakeholders across sectors.
Together, we offer a unique and powerful combination of expertise that will help clients across the investment ecosystem to identify, design and implement successful PBII approaches.
Our PBII Advisory Services
Through this partnership, we will offer a range of PBII Advisory Services to clients across the investment ecosystem. These services include:
| Stage 1: Exploration | Stage 2: Validation | Stage 3: Definition | Stage 4: Implementation | Stage 5: Realisation |
| The first stage of the journey is to identify projects suitable for external finance. This typically involves a workshop which helps explain the detail behind PBII, explores the potential projects in an area and examines the applicability of the funding to the priority projects of the area. | Once potential PBII projects have been identified their suitability for impact investment needs to be explored and validated. Our research and analysis determines the feasibility of the project. | For projects that pass Stage 2, our team of PBII experts help you to develop a detailed business case with the scope, costs, risks and potential impacts clearly defined. This stage would also include soft testing with potential funders. | Leveraging the networks and social capital of TGE we can assist with approaches to investors and support the funding due diligence stages, ensuring that impact measurement is appropriately embedded in all aspects of the project. | Once project funding has been secured, we would work with the team to develop a detailed impact measurement and management system, and annually assess and report on the delivery of the desired real world outcomes. |
A New Era of Sustainable Economic Development
We believe that this partnership marks the beginning of a new era for sustainable and equitable economic development in the UK. By working together, we can scale up the roll out of PBII projects across the country and make a real difference to real people in the real world.
Get in touch to find out how we can help you
About Mickledore
Mickledore is a specialist economic advisory business. The company was founded out of ‘Big 4’ consulting and was established in 2008. Since this time, the company has advised National and Local Government both in the UK and internationally. The team has also worked with some of the largest corporate investors in the UK.
About The Good Economy
The Good Economy is a leading, independent impact advisory firm. From consultancy to collaborative field-building, The Good Economy is a recognised thought leader and the ‘go to’ firm for organisations looking to deliver and report on their impact.
Grounded in theoretical rigour and the broad range of expertise within our industry-leading team, our services are designed to help clients meet the growing demand for greater confidence and credibility in strategies that create positive impact or pursue sustainability outcomes.
The PBII Team
The Place-Based Impact Investing team at The Good Economy is made up of a number of sector specialists including:
Mark Hepworth
Mark is a multidisciplinary economist whose international career spans academia, public policy and business consultancy. As co-Founder of The Good Economy, he leads the firm’s Place-Based Impact Investing work which includes research and policy thinking.
Mark has deep knowledge of the UK economic development landscape through his research at the Universities of Newcastle and Londo. Known for his seminal work on the IT revolution and the knowledge economy, he has lectured internationally, acted as an expert adviser to the UN Economic Council, the OECD and the European Commission, and undertaken strategy consultancy for a number of corporates.
Nigel Wilcock
Nigel is an experienced economic development specialist. He formed Mickledore in 2009 having been Regional Development Director at EY. He has worked in economic development for 30 years with 20 years in an advisory role. He has significant experience in leading projects, strategy and funding. Nigel is also the Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Development.
Sam Monger
Sam is TGE’s Head of Place-Based Impact Investing, and brings 30 years of experience developing, reviewing and delivering investment solutions from both an advisory and investor/developer perspective.
Sam played a leading role in delivering the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) UK Urban Futures Commission’s report ‘Unleashing the potential of the UK’s cities’ and wrote the Investment Playbook, designed as an introductory guide for local government on how to engage effectively with private finance in pursuit of place-based regeneration and social impact goals.
