About Us
Our Story
We have spent years working across UK economic policy, helping organisations understand how labour markets really function and why this matters for long‑term growth. Our perspective is shaped by experience across regional and national systems, and by a commitment to understanding how investment patterns shape opportunities.
We work from the principle that tasks shape jobs, jobs shape the labour market, and labour markets shape local places. This lens helps us challenge traditional approaches and build clearer, more balanced strategies for the future.
Simply: Labour markets sit at the centre of our work.
Our Purpose
We aim to strengthen local economies by improving how investment decisions are made. This means re‑examining long‑standing assumptions about labour markets, developing models and frameworks for local economies that reflect insights about labour and skills, and applying meaningful insight to understand where investment delivers the greatest return.
We bring together economic analysis, practical insight and clear communication. Our ability to translate complex labour market issues into actionable strategies has supported some of the UK’s most ambitious region‑shaping projects. We look at how work is changing, who participates in it, and how future labour markets are shaped. Our approach helps clients to invest in ways that benefit places, residents and strengthen long‑term economic performance.
Our focus includes:
Deindustrialised towns and cities
Long‑term investment challenges linked to the labour market
Identifying where & how labour demand is shifting, displaced and impacted
Helping organisations understand the Labour Market
About Ben
Ben Odams brings close to twenty years of experience working across UK regional and local government and public policy. He holds an MRes in History and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Policy with a focus on macroeconomics and public finance.
His work spans major programmes from Eco‑Towns to Local Growth Plans; from local government reorganisation and devolution to the development of Local Skills Improvement Plans, advising senior leaders and elected members, supported strategy development and worked directly with MPs and central government. His portfolio includes Local Skills Improvement Plans, education and labour market strategies, regional economic development models and a wide range of labour‑market‑focused projects.
He brings a deep understanding of how labour markets shape local economies and how clear, evidence‑led decision‑making can drive long‑term growth.