In the first part of a blog looking at home working and the return to the office, Professor Anne Green and Rebecca Riley look at what kind of workers are homeworking, regional differences around the UK, what the situation is in the West Midlands and whether home working impacts on productivity. Part two looks at … Continue reading “Homeworking and the Return to the Office – Part One”
Month: September 2020
Supporting Regional Resilience Through the Pandemic and Beyond
Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss some of the key topics when trying to understand the long-term economic impacts of the pandemic. In this article, Professor Simon Collinson discusses the role … Continue reading “Supporting Regional Resilience Through the Pandemic and Beyond”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 25th September 2020
This week, rising infection rates have led to increased restrictions across the UK, bringing most places into line and increasing some restrictions in locked-down areas. The Prime Minister hinted at this being a medium-term (6 months) approach to bring the virus under control. Key issues Regional representative organisations say there are still lots of issues … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 25th September 2020”
Civic Engagement, Universities and Inclusive Growth: Responding to COVID-19
On the 30th September, City-REDI / WM REDI and the Civic University Network will be holding an event called “Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery“. The event will begin with a discussion between Lord Robert Kerslake (Chair of the Civic University Commission) Lord David Willetts (President – Resolution Foundation) and Sarah Davidson (CEO – … Continue reading “Civic Engagement, Universities and Inclusive Growth: Responding to COVID-19”
Has COVID-19 Changed the Terrain of Engagement?
Liam O’Farrell considers the impact of Covid-19 on civic engagement: Will the pandemic make authorities more interested in digital public consultation? This blog is based on a report called “States of participation: International Best Practice in Civic Engagement“. Given that Covid-19 has only recently become part of our lives, there has not yet been a … Continue reading “Has COVID-19 Changed the Terrain of Engagement?”
Economic Aspects of the COVID-19 Crisis in the UK: DELVE Report No. 5
Dr Chloe Billing looks into the importance of high-quality data and the impact having access to this can have on influencing decision making and policy. By way of example, she looks at the impact the recent DELVE report has had on supply chains and intraregional inequalities. On the 14th August, the DELVE initiative released their … Continue reading “Economic Aspects of the COVID-19 Crisis in the UK: DELVE Report No. 5”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 18th September 2020
This week, Coronavirus cases are rising and new regulations have been introduced to stop the spread of the virus, schools have returned but many are suffering temporary closures and universities are also opening. There has been significant disruption to testing nationally and the rise in cases has hampered the return to offices. Unemployment and claimant … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 18th September 2020”
The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19
Welcome to the second edition of REDI Updates. Recently we spoke to the Rt Hon Chris Pincher MP, Housing Minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the role housebuilding has in the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. Here’s what he said: This has been the most testing period in recent history. But … Continue reading “The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19”
Good Work and the COVID-19 Crisis
In this blog, Professor Anne Green looks at the concept of ‘Good Work’, exploring the varying definitions, and its impact on both employers and employees and what they can both do to influence the situation. Context In 2019 national employment rates rose to historically high levels. In Great Britain, the employment rate for 16-64 year … Continue reading “Good Work and the COVID-19 Crisis”
The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube
In our latest blog, Dr Charlotte Hoole unpicks the complex world of the local government systems and explains how the different tiers and authorities for each region inter-relate. Back in 2006, the then head of communications at the New Local Government Network was quoted in the Guardian as saying “the complexity of local government is … Continue reading “The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube”