Johannes Read, Senior Policy and Data Analyst at the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) outlines that announcements made in the 2025 Budget on 26th November is more about tinkering with the edges, rather than a deeper, and arguably necessary, reform. Tackling different types of challenges Football is a big part of my life. As a … Continue reading “Unpicking the 2025 Budget”
Month: November 2025
UK Budget 2025: Key Measures and Economic Outlook
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered her second Budget, outlining plans for taxes, public services, infrastructure, business support, and social measures, alongside updated forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Some details were previously announced, while others emerged after the OBR accidentally published its official forecast early. This blog aims to summarise what was said … Continue reading “UK Budget 2025: Key Measures and Economic Outlook”
From Bronze to Gold: How a Place-Based Approach Can Drive UK Industrial Strategy Excellence
Rebecca Riley, Peter O’Brien and Helen Turner reflect on the Innovation for Growth summit – UKRI. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) opened the summit with an analogy that, in 1996, Team GB finished 36th in the Olympic medal table a sobering result for a nation with sporting history, tradition … Continue reading “From Bronze to Gold: How a Place-Based Approach Can Drive UK Industrial Strategy Excellence”
Developing a Business Case: Introduction to the Financial, Commercial and Managerial Cases
In a series of blogs, originally published by the National Civic Impact Accelerator, Alice Pugh explores the financial, commercial, and management cases in business case development, focusing on affordability, procurement, and delivery strategy. Financial Case The purpose of the financial case within the business case is to demonstrate the affordability and funding of the preferred option, … Continue reading “Developing a Business Case: Introduction to the Financial, Commercial and Managerial Cases”
Celebrating Our New City-REDI Associates
We are pleased to announce our new City-REDI Associates, who will join a vibrant community of researchers and policy experts working on some of the most pressing challenges facing cities and regions today. Our Associates will be working on a range of externally funded projects, not limited to, but including the Local Policy Innovation Partnership … Continue reading “Celebrating Our New City-REDI Associates”
Small Print, Small Ambition: Poverty in the Party Playbooks
Gerardo J. Arriaga-Garcia and Lee Gregory reflect on a decade of UK political manifesto audits by ASAP UK, revealing a persistent lack of ambition across parties to tackle poverty. Their analysis highlights declining commitments, especially under Labour’s 2024 government, and calls for a renewed focus on human flourishing in anti-poverty policy. In the run-up to … Continue reading “Small Print, Small Ambition: Poverty in the Party Playbooks”
The Birmingham Economic Review 2024 : A Year On
A year on from the Birmingham Economic Review 2024, we look at the findings of the report ahead of the launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2025. The Birmingham Economic Review 2024: Summary provides a compelling snapshot of Greater Birmingham’s economic landscape as of November 2024. Last year’s review—produced by City-REDI at the University of … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2024 : A Year On”
Ten Years of City-REDI – George Bramley
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 … Continue reading “Ten Years of City-REDI – George Bramley”
Learning by Doing: My First Steps into Research and Policy at City-REDI
Emma Davies reflects on her time as a City-REDI Intern. As a first-year undergraduate student, joining City-REDI as an intern marked my first experience working within a professional research environment. It was an exciting opportunity to engage with experts and observe how research and evidence inform policy – an area that has always interested me … Continue reading “Learning by Doing: My First Steps into Research and Policy at City-REDI”
Bridging Gaps: Policy, Participation, and Mental Health in Birmingham.
PhD student, Henna Chumber shares insights from a City-REDI Social Value and Impact studentship, exploring youth engagement in Birmingham Promise. From the Classroom to Council Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of diving into the world of policy through a City-REDI’s Social Value and Impact studentship. As a PhD student in Psychology with … Continue reading “Bridging Gaps: Policy, Participation, and Mental Health in Birmingham.”