Centre for Regional Economic Development

In August 2007, the Centre for Regional Economic Development (CRED) become part of the new University of Cumbria, providing research and consultancy services to development agencies, local authorities and government departments.  CRED was established in 1996 by Northumbria University at its Carlisle Campus on Paternoster Row and subsequently transferred, along with the Carlisle Campus, to University of Central Lancashire in 2004.

CRED has been managed by Research Director Professor Frank Peck since it was established, and currently has three researchers.  Since 1996, CRED has conducted research for many agencies within Cumbria including Cumbria Vision, Cumbria County Council, Cumbria LSC, West Lakes Renaissance, West Cumbria Local Strategic Partnership, Cumbria Inward Investment Agency, Carlisle City Council, Furness Partnership, Furness Enterprise and Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency.  In addition, work has been completed for a number of organisations outside Cumbria including the North West Regional Development Agency, Newcastle New Deal for Communities, Northumberland and Durham LSCs, East Lancashire Economic Regeneration Group, Burnley Borough Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council.    CRED has also undertaken projects on behalf of government departments and agencies such as the Welsh Assesmbly Government, Local Better Regulation Office in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Research and consultancy delivered by CRED has developed under three broad themes: Restructuring of regional economies; Regional economic policies and strategies; and Governance and partnerships in local regeneration.  Recently completed projects include a Review of Nuclear Supply Chain Spend in West Cumbria, an Evaluation of the Small Business Rates Relief Scheme in Wales, Business Support Needs Assessment for Newcastle New Deal, an evaluation of the Distinctly Cumbrian Programme, and an assessment of the Better Regulation Pilot for the Local Better Regulation Office.

The Cumbria Economic Bulletin is produced twice annually (in March and September) by the Cumbria Intelligence Observatory and the Centre for Regional Economic Development at the University of Cumbria.  Regular articles include a macro-economic overview, updates on selected economic indicators, commentary regarding corporate change in the County which focuses on jobs gained and lost by the industrial sector, unemployment and claimant data and notified vacancies data.  In addition, each edition includes a number of articles focusing on issues impacting upon the Cumbrian economy – the March 2011 edition (which is available on this website under "About Cumbria/Economy/Economic Bulletins") includes articles on Child Poverty in Cumbria, the Cumbrian Local Economic Assessment and an Update on the Local Eeconomic Partnership.  The Bulletin can be accessed via the CRED web-site at www.cumbria.ac.uk/AboutUs/Subjects/BusinessComputing/Research/CRED (external link) (external link) and clicking on the Cumbria Economic Bulletin button – this provides access to all editions of the Bulletin from March 2004.

Members of CRED are also the current Editors of Regions, the quarterly magazine of the Regional Studies Association.