This conference brings together leading academics, researchers and policy makers from the UK and internationally to consider new and established research and analysis to understand what works in achieving long-term, positive change in deprived communities. If you have an interest in levelling up then this is the conference for you.

Joining the discussion will be:

• Andy Haldane, Head of the Levelling Up Taskforce, Cabinet Office/DLUHC.
• Professor Raghuram Rajan, Former Chief Economist and Director of Research at the International Monetary Fund (Author of The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave the Community Behind)
• Rt. Hon. Andy Burnham, Mayor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Sarah Snelson, Director of Frontier Economics
• Alison McKenzie-Folan, Chief Executive, Wigan Council
• Will Tanner, Director, Onward Think Tank
• Eric Klinenberg, Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University (Author of Palaces for the People, How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life)

The conference will aim to define priority areas for levelling up and the interventions needed to make a difference. The key themes it will consider are:  

• How can social capital – the strength of communities, relationships and trust - help unlock levelling up?
• Community-led regeneration - What does the evidence tell us?
• Lessons from abroad: How can we restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods?

Doors open 9:15am for a prompt 10:00am start on Wednesday 4 May at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester M3 4FP.

We welcome as many different perspectives, ideas, and contributions as possible as we consider #LevellingUpEvidence. 

A number of tickets have been allocated for Big Local members which has now been reached.