Economic development officer Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As an economic development officer (EDO), it would be your aim to increase jobs and economic growth in your local area.

Your work would typically involve:

• developing projects to support local business growth and create new jobs
• building partnerships with communities, business networks and local government
• bidding for local, national and European funding
• setting up training schemes for local businesses and unemployed people
• advising local businesses and community groups
• promoting the local area to attract new employers and increase tourism
• working on neighbourhood renewal projects
• organising business fairs and giving presentations
• managing budgets.

You could be involved in all of these activities, or you might specialise in a particular area such as attracting inward investment or bidding for funding.

You may also be known by a range of other job titles, such as economic regeneration officer or economic adviser.

Hours

You would typically work standard office hours Monday to Friday, with occasional longer hours to meet project deadlines. Part-time work or job sharing may be available.

You would be mainly office-based, but would spend some of your time attending meetings and visiting companies and development sites in your local area.

Income

• Starting salaries can be around £22,000 a year
• With experience this can rise to between £26,000 and £35,000
• Some senior or specialist EDOs may earn up to £60,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You could come to economic development work with a range of qualifications and experience. A background in a relevant area such as town planning, community development, regeneration, business advice or surveying would be especially useful.

Employers will typically look for people with skills and experience in bidding for funding, managing projects, controlling budgets and marketing.

In practice many people in this job are graduates, but this is not always essential if you have the right skills and experience. You may have an advantage with a foundation degree, BTEC HNC/HND, degree or postgraduate qualification in one of the following subjects:

• regeneration
• planning and surveying
• economics
• marketing
• business studies
• housing.

You should check entry requirements with individual employers.

Alternatively, you may be able to start as an assistant, researcher or administrator in an economic development unit, and progress to EDO as you gain experience and knowledge of the sector.

Training and development

You will usually develop your skills on the job. Your employer may also arrange for you to attend short courses run by the Institution of Economic Development (IED), universities, or outside consultants.

Whilst you are working you could study towards a postgraduate qualification in economic development whilst, such as the IED's distance learning MSc in Local and Regional Economic Development. See the IED's Economic Development Distance Learning Consortium website for more information.

• Economic Development Distance Learning Consortium

Several other universities offer part-time or distance learning postgraduate courses in regeneration, urban renewal, economic development or community work.

Employers may also encourage you to gain other qualifications in management or business advice, if relevant to your particular job.

Skills and knowledge

• good communication and presentation skills
• motivation and initiative
• good planning and organisational skills
• the ability to manage several projects at once and meet deadlines
• good negotiating skills, for securing contracts and funding
• project management and budget management skills
• good networking skills
• report writing and research skills
• good computer skills.

More information

LG Jobs
www.lgcareers.com

Institution of Economic Development
PO Box 796
Northampton
NN4 9TS
Tel: 01604 874603
www.ied.co.uk

Opportunities

You could be employed by local authorities, regeneration organisations and enterprise initiatives. Many jobs are offered on fixed-term contracts, according to the funding available.

Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, regeneration publications and employers' websites.

With experience, you could progress to senior officer or economic policy manager. You could also move into freelance consultancy work, or work abroad with international development agencies.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

• Regen
• New Start
• LG Jobs
• Society Guardian