What is inclusive growth?
Inclusive growth is economic growth that delivers social benefits, tackles inequalities and spreads benefits more fairly between people and places.
Inclusive growth recognises that the traditional ‘grow now, redistribute later’ model of economic growth does not work. Instead, it offers a more purposeful approach to growth creation. This is measured not only by how fast or aggressive it is, but by how and where it is created and shared. It fosters a thriving economy that everyone can contribute to and benefit from by tackling inequalities and considering the social and environmental outcomes it achieves for people and places.
Local leaders, with their unique understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing their areas, are at the forefront of making inclusive growth a reality.
We believe that to create strong and sustained growth, we must address the profound inequalities between and within places. To do this, local areas must be empowered with the tools and the trust to deliver targeted, integrated and effective solutions for and with their communities.
The practical progress and impact shown by our members is testament to what can be achieved when places have an ambitious vision for inclusive growth.
Inclusive growth themes
IGN member places are delivering inclusive growth locally across five interconnected themes.
Good work
Ensuring everyone has access to fairly paid, safe and secure jobs, with agency, flexibility and opportunities for training and progression.
Healthy places
Promoting wellbeing by improving the social and economic determinants of health.
Sustainable economies
Creating good quality green jobs and training opportunities, and ensuring no community is left behind in the transition to net zero.
Community power and participation
Putting people at the heart of decision making by supporting more meaningful citizen engagement and participation.
Inclusive development and innovation
Ensuring that economic opportunities of physical development, regeneration, and innovation are intentionally designed to benefit local communities.
Mainstreaming inclusive growth
IGN members are translating inclusive growth from theory to practice by mainstreaming inclusive growth as a cross-cutting priority within local policy and decision-making processes. This is one of our core areas of focus.
Resource Hub
Browse our resource library to find out what inclusive growth looks like in practice and how it is benefitting communities across the UK
