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The Institute of Place Management and Manchester Metropolitan University convened their second Apprenticeship Roundtable on 12 November, bringing together over 20 representatives from local authorities, Business Improvement Districts, national bodies including The BID Foundation, the cultural sector and international partners to co-design a new Degree Apprenticeship in Place Ma ...

By Chris Gregory FIPM As the Institute of Place Management and Manchester Metropolitan University develop a new Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Place Management, I’ve been reflecting on what success might look like for this important next step in the professionalisation of our sector. Having worked in place management for over 25 years - across towns, cities, and business impr ...

The Institute of Place Management was delighted to welcome Dr Viriya Taecharungroj, IPM Senior Fellow and Associate Professor at Mahidol University, Thailand, to Manchester Metropolitan University during his recent visit to the UK for the International Place Branding Association conference. During his visit, Dr Taecharungroj presented his new book, Strategic City Branding: Insi ...

Place managers and leaders often describe the importance of a place’s “feel” - that hard-to-define emotional quality that makes one high street feel lively and welcoming, while another feels flat or uneasy. But how can we capture or communicate that feeling in practice? One idea comes from sensory place research. The Institute of Place Management (IPM) recently supported a smel ...

The Institute of Place Management, based at Manchester Metropolitan University, has had its written evidence on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill formally published by the UK Parliament. The submission, now available on Parliament’s website, sets out how Clause 58 of the Bill could be strengthened to deliver fairer, clearer, and more effective local governan ...

The “Boosting Britain’s High Streets” campaign, supported by IPM Fellows Diane Cunningham and Graham Soult, calls for a bold, place-based approach to regenerating town centres. Highlighting the need for collaboration across sectors, the campaign promotes high streets as vibrant, multifunctional spaces that reflect local identity and long-term stewardship—principles that align closely with the Institute of Place Management’s mission.

How does a small rural town become a national exemplar in circular economy innovation? For Circular Malton & Norton CIC, the answer lies in bold ambition, local partnerships, and deeply human values.

The Regional Studies Association (RSA) brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world to explore how regions can respond to the complex challenges of economic, social, and environmental change. Its Regional Futures Conference 2025 will provide a major platform to discuss and debate regional policy, establish new collaborations, and shape futu ...

The Institute of Place Management  is pleased to share details of an upcoming keynote panel, Place-based Circular Society Innovations, co-hosted by the ESRC Place-based Circular Society Innovations project and the MMU Sustainability Hub. Thursday, 23 October 2025 17:00 - 19:00 (BST) Manchester Metropolitan University Business School Register via Eventbrite Circular economy tr ...

As National Bookshop Day approaches on Saturday 11th October, the Institute of Place Management is reflecting on our  2021 research, Booksellers as Placemakers, which highlighted the powerful role of bookshops in sustaining and revitalising high streets. Booksellers as Placemakers The Contribution of Booksellers to the Vitality and Viability of High Streets Commissioned by the ...