In a world where traditional economic models are failing communities, Stoke-on-Trent is pioneering something different. The Stoke Model is a bold attempt to reshape how local economies function — putting people, place, and social value at the heart of regeneration.

Rather than waiting for outside investors to dictate the city’s future, the Stoke Model asks: What if communities could regenerate themselves? What if local people, businesses, and creatives had the power to drive economic renewal, creating new opportunities on their own terms?

Why Traditional Economics Falls Short

For decades, cities like Stoke-on-Trent have been caught in the old economic cycle:
🔹 Relying on external investment to fund growth.
🔹 Watching profits flow out of the local economy.
🔹 Measuring success purely in terms of GDP and job numbers, rather than community well-being.

But what if growth wasn’t just about money? What if we could measure social impact, cultural regeneration, and local wealth circulation as real economic value?

How the Stoke Model Works: A New Economic Framework

At its core, the Stoke Model takes the common building blocks of any economy — resources, markets, money, and incentives — but reinterprets them through a local, community-first approach. Here’s how:

1. Local Resources = Community Wealth 🌍💡

Traditional economies rely on big investors, corporations, and external funding. The Stoke Model leverages local assets and social capital:
✅ Repurposing vacant buildings for community use.
✅ Empowering local entrepreneurs and creatives instead of large chains.
✅ Investing in young people and skills development rather than chasing low-wage jobs.

2. Community as an Economic Agent 👥🤝

In the traditional model, businesses, governments, and consumers are the key players. The Stoke Model adds a fourth player — the community itself.

• People are not just workers or consumers; they are co-creators of value.
• Community groups and social enterprises become economic engines, driving self-sustaining growth.

3. The Potteries Pound: A New Way to Measure & Exchange Value 💰🔄

The Stoke Model introduces community benefit tokens, like the Potteries Pound, to keep money circulating locally.
✅ Businesses earn local currency by supporting social initiatives.
✅ Young people receive rewards for participating in community-led projects.
✅ Instead of profits leaking out of Stoke, value stays within the city, funding new opportunities.

4. Redefining Growth Beyond GDP 🚀

Instead of just measuring economic output, the Stoke Model tracks:
🔹 Social Impact — How many young people gain skills and employment pathways?
🔹 Cultural Revival — Can local creativity drive new industries in the city?
🔹 Local Wealth Circulation — How much value is retained within Stoke rather than extracted by outside businesses?

Why This Matters: A Model for Self-Regenerating Cities

Stoke-on-Trent has the opportunity to become a living case study — a model for cities worldwide looking for an alternative to the broken economic system. Instead of waiting for regeneration to happen from the top down, the Stoke Model shows how communities can rebuild from within.

🚀 This isn’t just about restoring a city — it’s about proving that economic transformation can be led by the people who live there.

Are we ready to rethink how we measure and create value? Let’s start the conversation. 👇 #CommunityEconomy #SocialImpact #FutureOfFinance