The Morbid Symptoms of Low-Growth and Low-Productivity: Is Devolution the Key to Levelling-Up?

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates aims to get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring Levelling Up. Rebecca Riley and Ben Brittain discuss the need for a radical change in … Continue reading “The Morbid Symptoms of Low-Growth and Low-Productivity: Is Devolution the Key to Levelling-Up?”

Midlands Engine Observatory Academic Insights: Challenges and Opportunities for the Midlands Regional Economy

In partnership with the Midlands Engine, City-REDI / WMREDI staff have compiled several think pieces on key emerging trends on regional economic data points. View our Midlands Engine Observatory project page Flexible Working Patterns Firstly, Dr Abigail Taylor looks at flexible working patterns. Greater demand for flexible and hybrid working practices has emerged following the … Continue reading “Midlands Engine Observatory Academic Insights: Challenges and Opportunities for the Midlands Regional Economy”

The Midlands Now Has an Opportunity to Be a World Leader in Advanced Ceramics

Ben Brittain discusses the Advanced Ceramics sector in the Midlands, and how recent funding may pave the way for the region to become a global leader in Advanced Ceramics. Earlier in the year, City-REDI was proud to be part of a consortium of partners that included Rolls Royce and JCB, to create an Advanced Ceramics … Continue reading “The Midlands Now Has an Opportunity to Be a World Leader in Advanced Ceramics”

WM REDI Has Partnered With the Industrial Strategy Council to Conduct Research on How Devolution Can Best Support the Levelling-up Agenda

In this blog, Ben Brittain and Dr Abigail Taylor discuss a new WM REDI project with the Industrial Strategy Council investigating governance and institutional arrangements, focusing particularly on the relationship between governance structures, policy levers and inclusive growth outcomes.  Local regions have been hard hit by the economic fallout of this pandemic. The extent of … Continue reading “WM REDI Has Partnered With the Industrial Strategy Council to Conduct Research on How Devolution Can Best Support the Levelling-up Agenda”

Birmingham Economic Outlook: Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Before the pandemic, Birmingham’s Economy was growing healthy. Ben Brittain discusses the massive impact that Coronavirus has had on the City’s economy and the road to recovery.  This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2020 is produced by City-REDI / WM … Continue reading “Birmingham Economic Outlook: Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic”

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”

REDI-Updates 2: Editor’s Welcome: After COVID-19 – The Long Recovery

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. When the last edition of REDI-Updates was published COVID-19 … Continue reading “REDI-Updates 2: Editor’s Welcome: After COVID-19 – The Long Recovery”

REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Ben Brittain … Continue reading “REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth”

To V or Not to V? Are We Heading for a V-Shaped Recovery?

  Ben Brittain analyses the available data to discuss whether the Bank of England is right in predicting that the UK economy is heading for a V-shaped recovery. The Bank of England has suggested the UK economy is heading for a V-shaped recovery. It has used a variety of indicators to come to its conclusion. … Continue reading “To V or Not to V? Are We Heading for a V-Shaped Recovery?”

REDI-Updates 1: Editor’s Welcome: Inclusive Growth Is More Important Than Ever

Foreword – by Simon Collinson and Ben Brittain When we began writing this, our first edition of REDI-Updates, the Covid-19 pandemic was a small and distant threat. A local crisis limited to a single city-region in China. The world has changed dramatically since then. As we re-focus our research efforts and our analytics towards projects … Continue reading “REDI-Updates 1: Editor’s Welcome: Inclusive Growth Is More Important Than Ever”