About

Most of Steve's work has been within the field of urban and regional development, particularly in the UK context, including studies of cities, rural areas, coalfields and seaside towns. Over the last decade his work, with Christina Beatty, on hidden unemployment and incapacity benefits has proved particularly influential. He has led numerous research projects for a wide range of clients, and is the author or co-author of five books and more than 100 articles and reports. He has worked closely with government, MPs, the EU and local authorities.

Outside academia, Steve Fothergill is the director of the Industrial Communities Alliance, the association of local authorities in Britain's older industrial areas, in which capacity he leads the lobbying for economic, social and environmental regeneration. For many years previously he was director of the Coalfield Communities Campaign and played a key role in the regeneration of Britain's former mining areas.

Steve's research interests include

• urban and regional economic analysis
• regional policy
• business and industry
• Europe
• labour markets
• joblessness
• local area studies
• energy policy
• benefits system
• regeneration
• tourism

Research

2014-2015 HEIF Public Engagement in the Social Sciences and Humanities, Sheffield Hallam University

2014 Seaside Towns in the Age of Austerity (PDF, 1.5MB), British Destinations/Welsh Government/BACTA

2014 The Local Impact of Welfare Reform in Wales, Industrial Communities Alliance for Wales