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Megan Streb

@meganstreb

Head of Outreach at @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social Non-Exec Director at @theied.bsky.social Also, fan of good planning, transport, and local gov. American living in Southampton, UK with ADHD. she/her

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18.11.2023
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Latest posts by Megan Streb @meganstreb

New how-to guide - Analysing local economic data

Making the most of data in #localgov economic development teams-- especially if you don't have analytical support-- is hard.
New @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social how-to guides for data analysis, skills data, and (soon!) productivity and income data.
All in our newsletter- mailchi.mp/whatworksgro...

20.02.2026 11:25 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Evaluation for the common good - What Works Growth What do the air you breathe, the Thames Barrier, and the Armed Forces have in common? It is impossible to exclude anyone in society from benefitting from them. We breathe the same air, flood…

Evidence is a public good. Once generated, everyone can benefit.

This blog from @ioramashvili.bsky.social looks at why evaluation of local growth policy is underprovided, and how devolution could change that πŸ‘‡
buff.ly/SjuUj3b

18.02.2026 14:22 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Always useful report from my colleagues at @centreforcities.bsky.social -- both for individual cities and for their analysis of what it means more broadly.

26.01.2026 10:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Great piece from @paulswinney.bsky.social showing how places can think through data. Definitely worth a read by #localgov folks -- you too can do a 'sniff test'!

15.01.2026 10:31 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Several online events from @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social coming up, plus a guest slot at the ONS Local webinar series. And can't forget the @centreforcities.bsky.social deep dives into regional data!
All in our latest event mailing: mailchi.mp/whatworksgro...

15.01.2026 10:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Some delightful comparisons on London's size in the comments here. A great reminder of why we often need to answer "is this a big number?" in multiple ways!

28.10.2025 11:48 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Understanding the drivers of productivity: Enterprise and competition - What Works Growth This blog focuses on enterprise and competition, and complements the blogs on GVA and productivity published in summer 2024.

Competition is an important driver of productivity as it can push businesses to become more efficient, innovative and productive.

But local government should think carefully about how to intervene.

Check out the latest blogπŸ‘‡
buff.ly/v2UFZ3N

15.10.2025 11:50 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Local opportunities in the Defence Industrial Strategy - What Works Growth In September the government published the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025. This is the last of eight sector plans in the national Industrial Strategy, alongside Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy…

In September the government published the last of eight sector plans in the industrial strategy, covering defence.

Our new blog gives suggestions for how places can think through support to local businesses in responding to these plansπŸ‘‡
buff.ly/qR0b8yL

06.10.2025 12:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Second blog in our new series 'Understanding drivers of productivity' -- this time on understanding capital and investment - a huge factor in the UK productivity puzzle.
This is a useful addition to our 'Core Concepts' series aimed at #localgov economic development teams.

16.09.2025 13:27 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Can expanding airports help local growth take off? - What Works Growth August means airports, and now that air travel has rebounded from the lows during the Covid-19 pandemic to reach levels where globally there are more flights than ever, airports face bigger and…

With more flights than ever taking off from the UK, airport expansion is a hot topic ✈️

But what might expansion mean for local growth in the areas around airports? Our new blog discusses some of the issues to considerπŸ‘‡
buff.ly/GSYeoO6

28.08.2025 13:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Multiplying the benefits of Local Growth Plans - What Works Growth Last month the government published new guidance for Mayoral Strategic Authorities on Local Growth Plans. These are a key foundation of the new Industrial Strategy and the government’s ambitions for d...

Local Growth Plans are a key part of the government’s growth strategy.

Devolution will need to generate jobs, investment and economic activity more than the sum of their parts – multipliers can help assess these wider benefits.

Read how in our new blogπŸ‘‡
whatworksgrowth.org/insights/mul...

14.07.2025 01:49 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

πŸ†• Rapid evidence review: Local multiplier effects of changes in public spending

We’ve published a new briefing on the local multiplier effects of changes in public spending.

Read in full πŸ‘‡
whatworksgrowth.org/wp-content/u...

07.07.2025 08:01 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Succinct podcast with the key takeaways on the impact of enterprise zones on the local economy. Great informative piece from our Deputy Director of Evidence, Victoria Sutherland, from @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social

02.07.2025 10:13 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My newest blog for @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social -- there's going to be a lot of hype for the IS-8, but places need to be realistic -- creating an advanced manufacturing cluster out of thin air isn't going to happen in most places. Take a broader approach to tradeable sectors in local economic plans.

27.06.2025 13:31 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Linking Appraisal and Evaluation: Lessons for Smarter Public Spending - What Works Growth UK local and combined authorities are being asked not just to justify investments but to demonstrate their impact.

Great to have Jeff Matsu of CIPFA author a guest blog on "Linking Appraisal and Evaluation: Lessons for Smarter Public Spending" for @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social

A 6 minute read: whatworksgrowth.org/insights/lin...

17.06.2025 09:57 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Enterprise zones and investment zones have been a hot topic for the last few years. But how effective are they? Our latest blog sets out what we've learned from our most recent study, and why more targeted evaluations would be useful.

28.05.2025 12:37 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Evidence topic: Area based initiatives - What Works Growth Original evidence reviews published in January 2016. Updated evidence review on enterprise zones published May 2025. Area based initiatives can have positive impacts on local growth outcomes, but…

In the 2010s, the UK government announced 48 Enterprise Zones (EZs) offering five-year rebates on business rates, simplified planning regulations, access to superfast broadband, and (in some cases) tax relief on plant and machinery investments.
buff.ly/XChupdH

08.05.2025 10:35 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

ICYMI: The UK Government launched an evaluation registry-- it includes evaluation plans and completed evaluations from across Departments and agencies. My latest blog highlights a few ways it can support local growth policymakers, as well as helping evaluation leads at MCAs to review methodologies.

23.04.2025 13:13 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@yadigomezh.bsky.social, research economist for @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social, offers recommendations for other evaluators in her newest blog.

09.04.2025 12:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Rigorous evaluation plays a key role in understanding the effectiveness of local growth policies.

We aim to make impact evaluation easier for policymakers by providing advice and support.

Our new briefing outlines lessons and recommendations from our evaluations πŸ‘‡

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25.03.2025 10:06 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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What works for what works evaluations: Lessons and recommendationsΒ  - What Works Growth Our new publication, Lessons and recommendations from What Works Growth’s evaluations of local growth policies, draws on a number of evaluations that What Works Growth has carried out over the years.

πŸ“ŒBLOG | We don’t have enough impact evaluations around local growth policies, but that can change.

Our Head of Outreach, @meganstreb.bsky.social, uses our newest publication to remind us that robust evaluation can be done in the UK.

See the blogπŸ‘‡
buff.ly/hqNpMha

31.03.2025 12:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Have you spoken to @philipglanville.bsky.social at @uk100.org already? They'll likely have good info on practical projects LAs are working on, and the issues they're grappling with most.

18.03.2025 17:15 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Why Industrial Strategy shouldn’t be aiming to make everywhere equally successful - What Works Growth In this guestΒ blog, Paul Swinney sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.

πŸ“Œ Why Industrial Strategy shouldn’t be aiming to make everywhere equally successful

In this blog, @paulswinney.bsky.social, sets out why the Industrial Strategy should be focused on the productivity of our biggest cities.

Read now πŸ‘‡
loom.ly/o-GBm_s

13.03.2025 10:38 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

How can #councils and planners create healthier places?

This practical new guild from @qualityoflifeuk.bsky.social shows how #DesignCodes can provide a framework for healthy place-making.

it's free - do take a look!

11.03.2025 11:47 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

But now you are on here?

07.03.2025 15:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Rainham volcano: a waste dump is constantly on fire in east London. Why will no one stop it? Under Arnolds Field, tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been burning for years, spewing pollution over the area. Locals fear for their health – and despair that no one seems willing to help

Ahhhhh..... the beauty of nature in London's Green Belt. (this is a bonkers story that is well worth a read) www.theguardian.com/environment/...

04.03.2025 14:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This is a fantastic thread, and some of the years will likely have you reeling.

28.02.2025 15:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic to see!

27.02.2025 20:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I volunteer at a school street in Southampton. Monday and Friday mornings I see the vast majority of kids walking, scooting or cycling. But cars are so freaking big (particularly compared to kids!) that a small number can cause chaos. It's a weekly reminder of inequity.
We can do better.

27.02.2025 16:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Great piece from @maxnathan.bsky.social et al originally in @econ-observatory.bsky.social on BBC relocation + multipliers.
Can't get enough of multiplier effects? Watch the recording of our recent @whatworksgrowth.bsky.social webinar -- link in the blog intro.

27.02.2025 16:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0