Learning from the DevoLab #5: How mayors and local leaders can create a shared vision for growth

Devolution will be central to delivering the government’s ambition of good growth in every postcode. The government has already committed to devolving further growth levers to mayors, including employment support, 16–19 education, and through fiscal devolution. As mayors take on these new responsibilities, they will need a clear vision for growth to guide their decisions.

But mayors cannot deliver growth alone. While mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs) hold important powers to influence growth, delivering it will require shared priorities across the wider local system. This means working with local authorities, businesses, universities, investors and central government to develop a shared vision for growth that reflects regional challenges and opportunities, informs policy and investment decisions, aligns action across partners and builds support for change.

So how can mayors and local leaders develop a shared vision for growth? How can they use leadership and convening powers to build support among partners? And what lessons can places learn from each other? 

To answer these questions, this policy briefing presents three case studies – from the East Midlands, West Yorkshire and Sheffield – of how mayors and local leaders have created a shared vision for regional growth, and draws out 10 key lessons. 

This paper draws on presentations delivered at a July 2026 DevoLab event in Sheffield, hosted by the Institute for Government, in partnership with L&G.

This publication forms part of the IfG DevoLab, an Institute for Government platform dedicated to exploring and learning from the policy and governance innovations that devolution enables.

Watch DevoLab 5 on regional growth