UIN Knowledge
The Urban Investment Network is composed of Knowledge Partners who lead in the field of urban and economic research. Profiles of Partner organisations, with links to relevant publications and events, can be found below:
The OECD Programme on Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) has advised government and communities since 1982 on how to respond to economic change and tackle complex problems in a fast-changing world. It draws on a comparative analysis of experience from some 50 countries in the Americas, Asia, Australasia and Europe in fostering economic growth, employment and inclusion.
Publications
Local development benefits from staging global events: Achieving the local development legacy from London 2012 (October 2010)
(http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/57/61/46207013.pdf)
This report is a peer review of the Olympic and Paralympic legacy for East London proposed by the Department of Communities and Local Government, United Kingdom. The Review took place between December 2009 and May 2010.
Organising Local Economic Development (May 2010)
(http://www.oecd.org/document/23/0,3343,en_2649_34417_44914327_1_1_1_1,00.html)
This book identifies how development agencies and companies work, what they do and what constitutes success and value added. It explores international practices in a variety of locations and contexts, and defines both the success factors and the challenges associated with economic development agencies and companies.
Building more and better jobs (December 2009)
(http://demo.ifoundry.co.uk/oecd/OECD-LEED-brochure.pdf)
This publication contains an insight into the mission of the LEED Programme. It summarises the programmes core activities and offers case studies to demonstrate how the organisation’s objectives have been achieved.
Recession, recovery and reinvestment (June 2009)
(http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,3343,en_2649_34461_43550172_1_1_1_1,00.html)
This publication identifies some of the most interesting local economic development practices that have been taken to respond to the financial crisis and presents them for wider discussion amongst practitioners and policy makers. The book includes 40 case studies from around the world, as well as the Barcelona Principles.
Interesting Links
OECD (http://www.oecd.org/)
The Organisation provides a setting where governments compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and coordinate domestic and international policies.
About LEED peer reviews
(http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,3343,en_2649_34417_44999281_1_1_1_1,00.html)
LEED has a diverse programme of work. Click here to see details of work already underway or planned. Each section offers a contact if you wish to enquire regarding joining a peer review.
Joining the LEED Partners Club
(http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,3343,en_2649_34417_45202223_1_1_1_1,00.html)
The LEED Partners Club is a worldwide network of sub-national governments, development and research agencies, business organisations, private sector entities and foundations that serve as a consultative body for the work of the OECD LEED Programme. Click this link to read more and download an application form.
As architects, designers, planners and consultants, Gensler partner with their clients on some 3,000 projects every year. These projects can be as small as a wine label or as large as a new urban district. With more than 2,000 professionals networked across 33 locations, Gensler serve their clients as trusted advisors, combining localized expertise with global perspective wherever new opportunities arise. Gensler’s work reflects an enduring commitment to sustainability and the belief that design is one of the most powerful strategic tools for securing lasting competitive advantage.
Publications
The Gensler Workplace Survey (2008)
(http://www.gensler.com/uploads/documents/2008_Gensler_Workplace_Survey_UK_09_30_2009.pdf)
This Survey creates new insight about the day-to-day knowledge workplace activities that produce business success: four work modes—focus, collaborate, learn, and socialise—that allow the creative and innovative power of people to be fully realised. The Workplace Performance Index correlates business success with the effective support of the four work modes in the workplace.
Faulty Towers: Is the British Office Sustainable? (July 2006)
(http://www.gensler.com/uploads/documents/FaultyTowers_07_17_2008.pdf)
This study compares the opinions of Property Directors who control commercial property portfolios with the opinions of Developers who create buildings for them. The difference in opinion is costing British businesses in excess of £155 million per year in energy costs, as well as impacting negatively on the environment.
These Four Walls
(http://www.gensler.com/uploads/documents/TheseFourWalls_07_17_2008.pdf)
This survey investigates the issue of a perceived inefficiency in the UK’s office spaces. By interviewing middle and senior managers in the legal, financial services and media sectors, the report offers the conclusion that poorly designed offices could be costing businesses up to £135 billion each year.
ECORYS is a leading European research and consultancy company with approximately 560 staff and 16 permanent offices in 11 countries, providing sound analysis and inspiring ideas. The company’s mission is to improve public policy worldwide. ECORYS work on local, regional, national and international levels with clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Interesting Links
ECRU English newsletter
(http://www.ecorys.com/ecru/ecru_en_1/full_en.html)
The English newsletter ECRU is a bi-annual update on interesting projects and developments in the field of regional development, urban development and real estate throughout old and new Europe.
The URBAN report
(http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/expost2006/urban_ii_en.htm)
This report presents the findings of the ex-post evaluation of the second round of the URBAN Community Initiative (URBAN II), one of four Community Initiatives funded through the Structural Funds in the 2000-2006 period. The report also presents the findings of an evaluation of the URBACT I (urban networks) programme created in 2002 as part of URBAN II.
An Evaluation of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal
(http://www.ecotec.com/news/March-2010/evaluation-national-strategy-neighbourhood-renewal.html)
ECOTEC led the Local Research Project (LRP), an ambitious, multi-region research project involving in-depth case studies of twenty-one deprived neighbourhoods, within twelve Local Authority areas in the UK.
The 9th European Evaluation Society International Conference
(http://www.czech-in.org/cm/ees/CM.NET.WebUI/CM.NET.WEBUI.scpr/SCPRsessions.aspx?conferenceid=05000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000022&sessionId=05000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000631)
At the 9th European Evaluation Society International Conference, held on the 6th-8th October 2010 in Prague, Tim Fox (Associate Director, ECORYS UK) and Jan Maarten De Vet (Director, ECORYS Brussels) gave a presentation on the lessons for urban policy and lessons for future evaluators arising from the URBAN II programme.
The Legacy of the London 2012 Olympics
(http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/research_and_statistics/7605.aspx)
The department for culture, media and sport (DCMS) has commissioned a consortium led by Grant Thornton, including ECORYS and Loughborough University, to undertake a comprehensive meta-evaluation of the impacts and legacy of the Games. It will aim to address overarching questions such as the impact of the Games on the UK economy and on the uptake of sport.
The implementation of the JESSICA fund in the Netherlands
(http://www.ecorys.com/ecru/ecru_en_1/artikel4_en.html)
ECORYS has completed the feasibility study for implementation of JESSICA in the Netherlands and will be assisting both Rotterdam and The Hague in developing the first Dutch pilots in setting up an urban development fund (UDF).
Future developments
ECORYS is in the final stages of producing a report for the European Commission/DG Enterprise on the Competitiveness of the European Construction Sector, which should lead to an informed EU policy and investment strategy. Further information on this project should be available shortly.
ECORYS is part of a wider consortium (amongst others with Roeleveld-Sikkes architects and IHS) that will begin providing support courses for cities in Romania on drafting and implementing urban development strategies.
Everyone is in agreement that the last three years have seen dramatic changes in the construction, engineering and infrastructure industry. At Ernst & Young's 9th annual CEO/CFO Roundtable, held in Madrid on 30 September and 1 October 2010, Ernst & Young presented two questions to industry leaders: where are we now, and where will we be in the next few years? Ernst & Young's report "The Ernst & Young CEO/CRO Roundtable for the Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Industry 2010" presents a summary of this event.
The report can be downloaded here.
