About us

Ensuring positive local change

Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) is an independent think-doing organisation,with charitable status, involved in regeneration, local economic development and local governance. CLES brings together a network of subscribing organisations, which includes regeneration partnerships, local authorities, regional bodies, community groups and voluntary organisations. Established in 1986, CLES undertakes a range of activities including policy research, production of publications, training, an information and briefing service, events and a consultancy trading arm – CLES Consulting. CLES also now owns and runs New Start Magazine- the magazine for making better places.

Our mission

‘The Centre for Local Economic Strategies is a registered charity which is committed to places and communities experiencing social and economic inequality and lack of opportunity. We want to improve the effectiveness of local groups, agencies and government in addressing these problems by informing policy and developing practice.’

Our values

• CLES will act as a champion to places and communities experiencing social, economic and environmental inequality and lack of opportunity.
• CLES works to improve the effectiveness of local government alongside groups and agencies in addressing these problems by informing policy and developing practice.
• CLES believes that effective local economic strategies can only be achieved through highly motivated and well trained employees who should, as far as possible, reflect the diverse communities in which they serve.
• CLES will inform and educate the public and other stakeholders about the value and benefits to local economies of high quality public services.
• CLES believes that the development of fairer places can only be achieved through improving the resilience of local economies of places.
• CLES works to achieve greater levels of fairness whilst working within environmental limits.

Our aims and objectives

• secure the role of CLES as the cutting edge UK forum for debating, thinking about and delivering successful local economic development and regeneration;
• connect local economic development and regeneration issues in imaginative ways;
• challenge prevailing orthodoxies where they are seen to fail local economies and communities;
• influence policy makers at all levels of the UK;
• assist our network in understanding local needs and implementing policy;
• research and develop ideas which seek to improve the local economic futures of local communities;
• demonstrate the contribution of the public sector to the local economy and harness local experiences of delivery and implementation of policy, highlighting best practice and where policy is going wrong;
• work with others who share our aims and values;
• continuously raise the standards of the practice of local economic development through learning;
• provide networks and services aimed at promoting and supporting the above.