What can government do differently to rewire growth? In conversation with Alan Welby

The Chancellor has said she wants to build an active and strategic state that drives investment-led growth across the whole of the UK. But is the wiring in place to make that happen? In this episode, recorded at the Connected Places Summit in London, Suzannah Brecknell speaks to Alan Welby, managing director for built environment and local growth at the Connected Places Catapult, about what it will take to turn that ambition intoreality. Drawing on a new report finding that only 1% of SMEs in most UK cities meet the threshold for investment readiness, Alan explains why capital continues to follow familiarityand existing networks rather than potential, and what needs to change. Theconversation covers blended finance, devolution, and the skills gap betweenpublic and private sectors. Plus, we hear a concrete example of how innovativefinancing models are being used to retrofit ageing housing stock in Glasgow. Alan calls on civil servants to be bolder, and get muchsmarter about supporting – and challenging – places to collaborate as they drive growth. Hosted by Suzannah Brecknell, Editor-in-Chief, Civil ServiceWorld. Recorded and produced by Podot.

You can listen to What can government do differently to rewire growth? In conversation with Alan Welby online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

What can government do differently to rewire growth? In conversation with Alan Welby is an episode from The Civil Service World Podcast by Civil Service World.

This episode is 00:24:22 long.

This episode was published on Mar 26, 2026.

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