Professor Rebecca Riley expands on arguments she recently made in a letter published in the Financial Times in response to an article by Michael Spence, President and Provost of UCL, on London’s role in the UK’s innovation economy. The issues it raises about innovation, regional growth and institutional capacity deserve a lengthier discussion than a newspaper letter can … Continue reading “Innovation is not a London-or-the-regions choice”
Meet City-REDI Associate – Ian Taylor
In a new series of Blogs, we hear from new City-REDI Associate Ian Taylor. Ian Taylor is a consultant and academic who is interested in collaboration and addressing some of the UK’s major challenges. As an academic and consultant, I have held Fellowships at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the University of … Continue reading “Meet City-REDI Associate – Ian Taylor”
Meet Eleanor Keeble, Economist, Statistician and City-REDI Associate
In a new series of blogs, we introduce our new associates. In this blog, we meet Eleanor Keeble. What happens when economic immobility hardens into a permanent geography of winners and losers? That’s at the core of my focus on what happens when workers can’t easily relocate, when people can’t easily change occupations or cross … Continue reading “Meet Eleanor Keeble, Economist, Statistician and City-REDI Associate”
Local Labour Market Buoyancy Holds the key to Solving the UK’s NEET ‘Crisis’
Donald Houston summarises his recent report examining the geographic inequalities in young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) across the UK. The issue The dominant policy response for decades to tackle youth employment has been chiefly supply-side in nature, tackling ‘deficiencies’ in young people themselves. New analysis just published in a … Continue reading “Local Labour Market Buoyancy Holds the key to Solving the UK’s NEET ‘Crisis’”
Meet New City-REDI Associate – Paul Anderson
In a new series of Blogs, we hear from new City-REDI Associate Paul Anderson. I am Senior Lecturer in Politics at Liverpool John Moores University. My research largely lies in the field of territorial politics, with specific interests and expertise on devolved governance across the UK and intergovernmental relations. More recently, my research has focused … Continue reading “Meet New City-REDI Associate – Paul Anderson”
Meet New City-REDI Associate John Cotton
In a new series of Blogs, we hear from new City-REDI Associate John Cotton. As a born and bred Brummie, and someone who has spent over 25 years in civic leadership working on the big political, economic and social questions facing our city and region, I’m delighted to be joining the team of associates at … Continue reading “Meet New City-REDI Associate John Cotton”
Meet New City-REDI Associate Christopher Lonsdale
In a new series of blogs, we will be introducing our City-REDI Associates, learning more about them and what they plan to do whilst working with us. The next instalment of this series, we introduce Christopher Lonsdale. I am a Professor of Procurement and Supplier Management at Birmingham Business School, home of City-REDI. I have … Continue reading “Meet New City-REDI Associate Christopher Lonsdale”
Meet New City-REDI Associate Mike Spicer
In a new series of Blogs, we hear from new City-REDI Associate Mike Spicer. Across a variety of roles in the public and private sectors, I have spent over twenty years working on why some places and some firms do better than others, and what policy should and actually can do about it. I have … Continue reading “Meet New City-REDI Associate Mike Spicer”
Policy News – July 2026
This blog summarises the latest policy news including reports, inquiries, consultations, government research and events. Reports from Academics and Think Tanks Title Details Published Centralising council tax would make Burnham’s job more difficult Proposals for replacing council tax are common and it should be reformed, but it shouldn’t be centralised. Checking out: The varying performance … Continue reading “Policy News – July 2026”
Meet New City-REDI Associate Chris Gregory
In a new series of Blogs, we hear from new City-REDI Associate Chris Gregory. Having grown up on the Birmingham border, I have lived locally for almost all of my life, and am therefore delighted to have been appointed a City-REDI Associate. When completing my first degree (Geography at the University of Plymouth), I regularly … Continue reading “Meet New City-REDI Associate Chris Gregory”