LGSETA Qualifications · Qualification programme
National Certificate: Local Economic Development
Local development practice and initiatives supporting economic participation.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Local development practice and initiatives supporting economic participation.
The programme brings together local development context, stakeholder communication, project and research foundations and project finance. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: A new local economic development officer must understand a community project and communicate its purpose. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
The SAQA record has passed its registration end date. Confirm current enrolment or replacement arrangements with Ratomac.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Entry-level LED officers and municipal development-support staff.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Map the local development context and municipal relationships.
- Prepare a stakeholder communication brief.
- Plan a small research task and outline a project sequence.
- Build a basic fictional project budget and explain its assumptions.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Local development context
This part of the programme examines local development context, with attention to economic concepts and municipal responsibilities. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Economic concepts.
- Municipal responsibilities.
- Applied work: map the local development context and municipal relationships.
Illustrative practical exercise
Map the local development context and municipal relationships. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Stakeholder communication
This part of the programme examines stakeholder communication, with attention to engaging local development participants. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Engaging local development participants.
- Identifying what different local participants need to understand about an initiative.
- Preparing accessible messages and a way for participants to respond.
- Applied work: prepare a stakeholder communication brief.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a stakeholder communication brief. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03Project and research foundations
This part of the programme examines project and research foundations, with attention to investigating needs and organising initiatives. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Investigating needs.
- Organising initiatives.
- Applied work: plan a small research task and outline a project sequence.
Illustrative practical exercise
Plan a small research task and outline a project sequence. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Project finance
This part of the programme examines project finance, with attention to basic budgeting and financial management. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Basic budgeting.
- Financial management.
- Applied work: build a basic fictional project budget and explain its assumptions.
Illustrative practical exercise
Build a basic fictional project budget and explain its assumptions. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
A new local economic development officer must understand a community project and communicate its purpose. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Qualification content summarised from SAQA. Delivery and enrolment arrangements are confirmed by Ratomac. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.