What should the Mayor do on skills & housing?

Skills is a significant issue for the West Midlands but it’s structural and deep seated nature means 100 days of Mayoral activity is only the start. Solutions are long term and require fundamental changes to the regional economy, labour market and delivery structures. It’s vital the Mayor puts in place a programme of change that … Continue reading “What should the Mayor do on skills & housing?”

Shedding new light on innovation policy

The following piece was written by City-REDI’s Max Nathan, for the What Works Centre. Industrial strategy is one of the big issues for the What Works Centre and its local partners and innovation is one of the main themes of industrial strategies in the UK, and around the world. Public policy plays a number of important … Continue reading “Shedding new light on innovation policy”

Birmingham: a city of visible negatives and hidden positives

This blog was first posted on the Urban Living Birmingham Blog. Below are contributions in response to a request for the best and worst of Birmingham. They formed part of an impromptu exhibition held at the March 2017 Urban Living Birmingham Touchstone Group Meeting. From the author, David Thew, Secretary to the Futures Network West … Continue reading “Birmingham: a city of visible negatives and hidden positives”

The economic black hole at the heart of the shift to electric vehicles

Source: Charging more? nrqemi/Shutterstock This piece was written by City-REDI’s Professor John Bryson and Anastasios Kitsos The ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040 is perhaps the most significant policy announcement made by the UK government in the past decade (with the possible exception of Brexit). It feels like a … Continue reading “The economic black hole at the heart of the shift to electric vehicles”

Birmingham 2040: The Ban on New Petrol and Diesel Engines, Electric Vehicles and Robotics

This blog was written by Professor John Bryson and first posted on the Urban Living Birmingham Blog. In 1971 Sir Peter Hall speculated about London and the year 2000. Forecasting futures will always result in failure, but perhaps there are some ‘knowns’ about what Birmingham will look like in 2040 and many unknowns. One ‘known’ is that … Continue reading “Birmingham 2040: The Ban on New Petrol and Diesel Engines, Electric Vehicles and Robotics”

Electric Vehicles by 2040: Changing the Game for Jaguar Land Rover

In a bid to deal with concerns over air pollution, the UK’s government announced a plan to prohibit the sales of new cars and vans that use diesel and petrol as fuel by 2040. Poor air quality has been named as ‘the biggest environmental risk’ to the health of individuals, prompting the government to announce … Continue reading “Electric Vehicles by 2040: Changing the Game for Jaguar Land Rover”