This year marks a major milestone for City-REDI as we celebrate a decade of research, impact, and collaboration. Over the past 10 years, we’ve grown from a bold idea into a leading centre for regional economic development, shaping policy and practice across the UK and beyond.
To mark this anniversary, we’re launching a special blog series that looks back on our journey—highlighting key projects, partnerships, and the people who’ve helped make it all happen.
The next part of our series is from Co-Director, Professor Anne Green.
I joined City-REDI at the University of Birmingham in June 2017 as Professor of Regional Economic Development. I had been at the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick for many years. The onset of cumulative inertia meant it seemed a big move although in the grand scheme of things it was not so very far – geographically (a big plus for the University of Birmingham is that it was its own railway station) or otherwise. I was able to continue with some of my research projects on issues of local labour markets, employment and skills, evaluation, migration and evaluation. Importantly, I also started new projects and collaborations on these and other topics with great colleagues in the City-REDI team from whom I continue to learn just as much now that I am Co-Director of City-REDI as I did at the outset.
I already had connections with policymakers and practitioners in the West Midlands and beyond but coming to City-REDI marked a step up with this. For an applied researcher, an Institute like City-REDI is a stimulating place to work, with team members from a range of disciplines and backgrounds and with good connections to users of our research.
There are many memorable projects but one highlight (amongst many) I would pick out would be The Future Business District. This project was commissioned by Colmore BID early in the Covid-19 pandemic. It sought to answer two questions: (1) What is the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on city centre business districts? (2) How can we ensure they remain successful as places to attract businesses and people and contribute to vibrant city centres? It involved examining a range of evidence and exploring different scenarios – some more desirable than others. The first time many of those involved in that project came together in ‘real life’ was at the launch of the report.
The Covid-19 pandemic also saw us producing the West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor, starting in March 2021 and reaching its 100th edition in April 2023. That was quite a marathon, with Wednesday evenings for me dedicated to reading and editing the Monitor. Later that same year, in another major feat, the City-REDI blog series published its 1000th article – see 1000 Not Out! The City-REDI Blog Hits 1000 Articles to explore the topics City-REDI has covered.
More recently it was been insightful for me to work more on international comparative studies at the sub-national level on aspects of regional and local economic development – including a study about enabling regional growth in Osaka (Japan) and the West Midlands. Not only is it interesting to explore new approaches being adopted elsewhere but from a geographically- and culturally-distant vantage point it is possible to reflect on policies and practice at home through a different lens from an alternative perspective.
Looking ahead over the next 10 years I hope that City-REDI continues to make academic, policy and practice contributions in the field of regional and local development (broadly defined). For me one of the greatest rewards in my time at City-REDI has been to see colleagues who recently completed their postgraduate studies grow into accomplished researchers and analysts, working both as team players and leading projects and teams. My hope is that they – and others – continue to grow in the future.
This blog was written by Anne Green, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Co-Director, City-REDI, University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the authors and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.