UK Regional Innovation Pilots ‘Should Shun Silicon Valley Myth’

In this article, John Morgan in the Times Higher Education Supplement, discusses the government’s plans to create ‘innovation accelerators’ in Glasgow, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester. City-REDI / WMREDI’s Professor Simon Collison comments on the plans for the West Midlands. Plans to create three UK “innovation accelerators” are seen as giving city regions and … Continue reading “UK Regional Innovation Pilots ‘Should Shun Silicon Valley Myth’”

Comparing Creative Clusters in the West Midlands and South Wales

James Davies and Matt Lyons report on the importance of higher education institutions in the development of regional creative clusters and the questions that remain unanswered. This project, in collaboration with the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre, compares two UK regions with growing creative sectors and asks how can regions optimise their creative clusters. … Continue reading “Comparing Creative Clusters in the West Midlands and South Wales”

Meet Annum Rafique- City-REDI / WMREDI’S New Research Fellow

My name is Annum Rafique, and I joined City-REDI in March 2022 as a Research Fellow. I have a PhD in economics from Cardiff University, which Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE) funded. My doctoral work focused on the sustainable intensification of dairy farms in Wales and England. I … Continue reading “Meet Annum Rafique- City-REDI / WMREDI’S New Research Fellow”

Universities and Levelling Up Policy Forum – Setting the Scene

This blog, by Des McNulty, Mike Boxall, Chris Millward and John Goddard, is the first outcome of a dialogue involving senior participants from universities, government and a variety of civic organisations to (i) discuss the role Universities might play in the implementation of the levelling up agenda and (ii) scope out the White Paper’s implications … Continue reading “Universities and Levelling Up Policy Forum – Setting the Scene”

Back Issues of the West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor

WMREDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report is based on research … Continue reading “Back Issues of the West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor”

Air Transport and Connectivity – Covid Permitting

Paul Kehoe looks at the aviation industry in the UK and how the pandemic impacted the market. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth … Continue reading “Air Transport and Connectivity – Covid Permitting”

City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – April 2022

Events – presenting work / speaking engagements On 30th March, George Bramley and Dr Abigail Taylor presented on how incubators can act as engines for growth at a roundtable organised by the West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster. Dr Sara Hassan was hosted in a Podcast by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung to speak about Sustainable Urban Transport Justice and … Continue reading “City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – April 2022”

Meet Reen Blake-Carr, City-REDI’s New Policy and Data Analyst

I have been with the City-REDI team since July 2021, when I started out as an intern on placement for 13 weeks. During my internship, I worked on building City-REDI’s database of economic indicators for the region, which would allow colleagues to visit a ‘one-stop-shop’ to find the relevant data needed for projects. Using the … Continue reading “Meet Reen Blake-Carr, City-REDI’s New Policy and Data Analyst”

TRAMSforming Birmingham and the Black Country

Peter Cushing discusses the extension of the West Midlands Metro network and the impact this will have on the region.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It … Continue reading “TRAMSforming Birmingham and the Black Country”