Case studies

Cambridge has a strong international profile aided by easy access from London. Its tourism and hospitality sectors have been growing strongly in recent years with visitors having increased by 50 per cent since 2013.

Broxbourne Borough Council runs its own sports provision through the Broxbourne Sport service. Over the last 10 years the service has gone from an operating loss to a trading budget surplus, which is used to improve the facilities and increase participation. This has already saved more than £700,000 from the council’s capital programme budget.

The visitor economy is a key component of the economy of Brighton and Hove and continues to be an important driver. The sector supports around 1 in 5 jobs in the city and generates visitor expenditure of around £886 million.

In 2013, Bradford Libraries commissioned a review of its library service. This was a major piece of work and involved considerable consultation with library users and non-users and other stakeholders.

Well known for its attractions such as the Pleasure Beach, trams, the Tower and illuminations, Blackpool attracts 18 million visitors per year and generates £1.5 billion in visitor spend. Following a decline in its visitor numbers, the town began to reverse its fortunes from 2014 onwards through a sustained programme of investment.

Beyond Brontës was launched in 2019 by Screen Yorkshire and Bradford Metropolitan District Council (MDC). The initiative increases diversity in the screen industries by providing TV and film production training and work placements to young people aged 18 to 30.

Cambridge Junction, in partnership with HighRise Theatre and Romsey Mill charity, worked with young people at risk of exclusion or excluded from education and employment in a newly built area of Cambridge.

Knowing that residents in lockdown would be facing isolation, loneliness and a lack of opportunity to engage in cultural activities, Barnsley Museums sought to continue their programmes in new and innovative ways.

Barking and Dagenham’s music education hub acts as a strategic broker, joining up council services and local providers to deliver opportunities for young people and schools.

Calderdale Council works with a range of partners to support cultural activity such as festivals and events, delivering pride in place to local communities and attracting visitors to its market towns.