The Levelling Up agenda was an ambitious attempt to address regional inequalities, but its execution was flawed. The regime was marked by fragmented funding, inconsistent delivery, and a lack of long-term strategic planning. As a result, by the beginning of 2024 only £3.7 billion of the £10.47 billion made available ever got allocated, and only £1.25 billion had been spent. This is underscored by the high cost of councils navigating the bidding process, which totalled £27 million by the beginning of 2023. While the policy itself has now mostly been discontinued, the challenges it sought to solve remain. Addressing regional disparities is still a pressing priority, and this government’s Growth agenda offers an opportunity to rethink how we tackle inequality in a way that is more effective, sustainable, and better integrated with wider economic policy.
This campaign will examine the lessons from Levelling Up—what worked, what didn’t, and where improvements are needed. We will engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and regional stakeholders to develop a new framework that avoids past mistakes and ensures that investment is better targeted, long-term, and truly transformative for communities. Our focus will be on creating an evidence-led, regionally tailored approach that prioritises skills, infrastructure, and economic opportunity in a way that aligns with the government’s Growth agenda.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, this campaign will refine and improve upon previous efforts, advocating for a smarter, more coordinated strategy to tackle regional inequality. In this way, we will help shape the next generation of policies that drive sustainable economic growth across the UK.
