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This thesis sets out to examine the regional policies pursued by the Labour Governments of 1997 – 2010. In particular it looks at how the institutions and networks set up as part of these policies worked in the East Midlands region. Drawing on the theories of New Regionalism the research examined the attempts by the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) to set up a governance network. The thesis has three central research questions relating to regional governance and the use of the theories of New Regionalism in an area without a strong regional identity. The research found that while EMDA was able to have a positive impact on the region’s economy it struggled to attract significant private sector involvement in governance networks outside of their Nottingham base. Conversely efforts to set up public-private collaboration in Leicestershire by the City and County Councils had much more success in attracting meaningful contributions from the private sector. Two factors emerged from the research that help to explain the different outcomes found within the region, both of which have implications for regional studies and policy. Firstly the role of local government in attracting private sector involvement in the new Economic Development Company was seen as key as it gave the new venture an air of democratic legitimacy that the quango led regional structures did not have. Secondly this research shows that regional policy makers must seek to ensure that they are working at the most appropriate scale in order to gain the buy-in of local actors. Participants in this research from both the public and private sector did not see the East Midlands as a meaningful region to which they had any attachment or loyalty. Attempts to stimulate economic growth at the county or city-region scale had much more success in attracting business involvement in their networks.

Much focus has been given in recent years to the Community of Practice, Participation Metaphor of Learning. Less attention has been paid in the literature to understanding the elements effecting how people are able to engage, particularly within the dynamic of developing market professionals within international CoP’s. This study explores the experiences and perceptions of established international professional’s and newcomers within this dynamic. Through qualitative investigation in two organisations in West Africa and the Middle East, the study discusses findings within two meta themes regarding the effects of local newcomer’s experiences of legitimate peripheral participation in their respective CoP’s. Firstly “Multiple and Consistent Identity Formation within CoP Constellation Navigation” explores two-way meaning and learning from professional communities and the impact on actors developing professional and personal identities. This is built from four contributory themes; Exploring different routes to CoP participation; Impacts of professional vs domestic CoP’s on identity; Continuity of personal identity across CoP’s and the impact of CoP norms on Identity. Secondly “Palatable Diversity” explores evidence around the impact of sponsored participation opportunities; Positive discrimination policies, Effects of local CoP members becoming established; Degrees of diversity found palatable by established Professionals, and finally: An absence of Racism in LPP. Conclusions are made that engagement in LPP is entirely possible through a nuanced understanding of individual differences within a complex landscape of CoP’s, which is notably different for developing market newcomers in comparison to their international predecessors. This impacts on their professional and personal identities in different ways. It was however found that access was attainable to them, if they succeeded in understanding and navigating the trajectories required for participation by established members. This is presented as providing a contribution to the debate through problematizing recent literature on multiple identity creation through meaning making in legitimate peripheral participation, as well as adding to the discussion on attitudes to diversity within a constellation landscape of international and local CoP’s.