Linking Research to Localities – The City-Region Economic Development Institute

Simon Collinson, Rebecca Riley, and Anne Green reflect on the experience of developing City-REDI and the factors that have enabled it to produce research tailored to the needs of regional stakeholders. An invitation to write a chapter for a book titled ‘How to Engage PolicyRe Makers with Your Research: The Art of Informing and Impacting Policy’ provided a … Continue reading “Linking Research to Localities – The City-Region Economic Development Institute”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 11 November 2022

This fortnight, with a new PM in place, leading business representative organisations, including the CBI, FSB and the Chambers of Commerce have called for certainty and stability from the new Prime Minister to restore business confidence in the UK. They are calling for Rishi Sunak to restore fiscal credibility, stabilise the economy and deliver much … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 11 November 2022”

The City Index: Comparing The Major Three Cities in the West Midlands

Reen Blake-Carr uses the WMREDI City Index Model to compare the performance of three major cities in the West Midlands – Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton. View the City Index, part of the WMREDI Data Lab. About the City Index The City Index looks at different cities in the region and evaluates them based on 10 … Continue reading “The City Index: Comparing The Major Three Cities in the West Midlands”

Birmingham’s Business Confidence: Boom or Bust?

Beth Clewes discusses the impact of Covid-19, Brexit, energy prices and inflation on business confidence in the region. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2022. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI at the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is … Continue reading “Birmingham’s Business Confidence: Boom or Bust?”

Energy Price Cap Reduction

Alice Pugh looks at the potential impact of the removal of the energy price cap for households in the West Midlands. The removal of the energy price cap from April 2023 will have a massive impact on energy bills for households within the WMCA area. The West Midlands region has the largest number of fuel-poor … Continue reading “Energy Price Cap Reduction”

City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – October 2022

Events – presenting work / speaking engagements City-REDI / WMREDI held two fringe events during the party conference season. Professor Adam Tickell hosted the second event held at The Exchange. On 19th October, City-REDI / WMREDI hosted the Civic Network Advisory Group Dinner at The Exchange. On 20th October, City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers … Continue reading “City-REDI / WMREDI Round Up – October 2022”

Political Party Approaches to University R&D and Innovation in the UK

Steve Barwick writes about the approaches of the UK’s two major political parties to University R&D and Innovation. City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham recently hosted fringe meetings at both the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences in order to gauge and explore the respective political party’s approach to university R&D and innovation, including its role … Continue reading “Political Party Approaches to University R&D and Innovation in the UK”

Megatrends and the West Midlands: Generations

Liam O’Farrell examines the age-old trope of intergenerational conflict. Does the evidence support the idea of generations at war or is categorising people by age a poor way of understanding our society?  This article is part of larger project looking at Megatrends in the West Midlands. Megatrends are major movements or patterns or trends that … Continue reading “Megatrends and the West Midlands: Generations”