Based on a novel format of regularly-held Select Committee-style hearings, The Oldham Economic Review (OER) was designed to provide a new approach to local economic policy development in Oldham.

One year on from the publication of the original OER report, Professor Alan Harding, CAPE Policy Fellow and Chief Economic Adviser to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority reflects here on the process of running the OER, and discusses how effective the review process was for achieving high-quality academic-policy engagement. Outlining the format’s opportunities and challenges, the report considers the success of the approach, and offers insights into how and where similar models might work best.