Equipping Place Leaders to Overcome Challenges in Infrastructure Delivery
LGA Skills for Infrastructure Study
In March 2025 Genecon was appointed by the LGA to deliver a rapid research project exploring the intersection between infrastructure delivery and workforce demands, with a focus on housing and green skills. The project involved four national case studies and a series of in-depth interviews to understand how local authorities are navigating skills pressures and capacity gaps across major infrastructure pipelines. Findings were intended to inform future LGA policy and sector-wide support.
The Challenge
Councils are facing significant challenges in delivering the housing and low-carbon infrastructure needed to meet national and local priorities, from net zero to economic growth. A critical constraint is the lack of locally available skills and the fragmented system for coordinating provision, pipelines, and place-based investment. The LGA sought actionable insights to understand how local government can better influence and shape skills pathways to meet infrastructure needs, especially in the context of declining capacity, siloed funding, and a rapidly changing policy environment.
How We Did It Differently
Genecon deployed a place-based approach, identifying four distinctive localities with different infrastructure priorities and governance models. In each, we engaged directly with council leads, training providers, anchor institutions, and regional stakeholders to surface real-world tensions and successful interventions.
Rather than producing a generic gap analysis, we articulated how councils can act as convenors and strategic partners in skills coordination, particularly around pipeline planning, local labour market analysis, and devolution of funding levers.
Our final report provided the LGA with targeted, evidence-backed recommendations for future advocacy, funding design, and cross-sector collaboration.
Read the full report here: https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/sharing-local-innovation-skills-infrastructure
Case Study
Get Marches Working Plan
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Case Study
Greater Cambridge Cultural Strategy
In May 2023, Genecon – alongside partners Beispiel and Things Made Public CIC - were commissioned to produce a Cultural Infrastructure Strategy for Greater Cambridge, as Stage 1 of a three Stage process aimed at harnessing the opportunities offered by the exponential growth in the Greater Cambridge region, and ensuring that future infrastructure will meet the demands of residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
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Case Study
LGA Skills for Infrastructure
In March 2025 Genecon was appointed by the LGA to deliver a rapid research project exploring the intersection between infrastructure delivery and workforce demands, with a focus on housing and green skills. The project involved four national case studies and a series of in-depth interviews to understand how local authorities are navigating skills pressures and capacity gaps across major infrastructure pipelines.
Read more
Case Study
Darwen – From Plan for Towns to Plan for Neighbourhoods
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Sunderland Future High Streets Fund
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Hartlepool Town Investment Plan
In July 2020, genecon was commissioned to co-ordinate the preparation of the Hartlepool Town Investment Plan, working alongside Arcadis to develop a 20-year vision that would capitalise on the town’s existing strengths and to address challenges and shortfalls to drive economic growth and resilience.
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Essex Growth Model
In 2017, genecon created a toolkit to help Essex County Council take robust and effective decisions over its capital programme investments, with the goal of achieving the best possible economic and fiscal returns from up to 200 development sites across the county over the next 20 years.
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