The Government has spoken many times about its desire to level up, but what levelling up actually means is still unknown.

So what should levelling up be trying to achieve? Is it about improving productivity? Should it focus on creating jobs? Or should improving standards of living be the goal? And what are the dilemmas and tensions that the Government will need to grapple with to find the right balance between these different measures?

This event explored these questions in more detail and discussed the dilemmas inherent within with the Government’s levelling up agenda.

Speakers were:

• Philip McCann, Professor of Urban and Regional Economics, University of Sheffield Management School
• Victoria Sutherland, Head of Evidence, What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth
• Paul Swinney, Director of Policy and Research at Centre for Cities

The event was chaired by Andrew Carter, Chief Executive at Centre for Cities