The Heavy Weight of Covid Loans on the Hospitality Industry

Tracey Stephenson, Managing Director of Staying Cool, discusses how the UK’s hospitality industry suffered disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy … Continue reading “The Heavy Weight of Covid Loans on the Hospitality Industry”

What the Midlands is Doing to Meet Sustainable Transport Goals

Paige Davies discusses the measures the Midlands is taking to reach net zero. Paige worked as an intern at City-REDI over the summer of 2023. She graduated with a BSc in Geography and is currently undertaking a Masters in Environment, Development, and Politics at the University of Birmingham. As part of the UK’s net zero … Continue reading “What the Midlands is Doing to Meet Sustainable Transport Goals”

Unleashing the Regional Innovation Potential of Universities

In a series of blogs, Simon Collinson, Fumi Kitagawa and Tomas Ulrichsen examine the role of universities in regional development. The blogs are co-authored by the Policy Evidence Unit for University Commercialisation and Innovation (UCI) at the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) and the West Midlands Regional Economic Development Institute (WMREDI at City-REDI), … Continue reading “Unleashing the Regional Innovation Potential of Universities”

International Students in the West Midlands: Economic Impact and the Challenges of Graduate Retention

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the second part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part II discusses the challenges faced by international students upon their graduation from British universities. View part I – International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: Economic Impact and the Challenges of Graduate Retention”

International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the first part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part I sets the scene by providing the number of students in the region. Introduction The United Kingdom has long been a favourite destination for international students to pursue their higher … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications”

The Potential Impact of Youth Social Prescribing in the West Midlands on Employment and the Economy: Final Report and Evaluation Framework

Joanne Mills and Rachel Hopley from the University of Wolverhampton have designed an evaluation framework to help identify the potential impact of youth social prescribing within the West Midlands on employment and the economy. They have written this blog to give an update on the Institute for Community Research and Development’s recent project with WMREDI … Continue reading “The Potential Impact of Youth Social Prescribing in the West Midlands on Employment and the Economy: Final Report and Evaluation Framework”

A Stay of Execution: The Desperate Situation of the Hospitality Sector

1 in 18 licenced premises have been lost between June 2022 and June 2023. Anne-Marie Simpson, Owner of Simpsons Gin Bar, discusses her experiences as a business owner in tough economic times.  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and … Continue reading “A Stay of Execution: The Desperate Situation of the Hospitality Sector”

Occupier Demand in the West Midlands

Charles Toogood, Principal and Managing Director for National Offices and Lease Advisory Team, Avison Young, discusses factors impacting occupier demand in the West Midlands. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is … Continue reading “Occupier Demand in the West Midlands”

The Midlands Recruitment Sector in 2023

Jack Stockport, Business Technology Manager from SF Recruitment discusses some of the key factors behind the encouraging performance of the Midlands recruitment sector. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an … Continue reading “The Midlands Recruitment Sector in 2023”

View from the Logistics Industry

Michal Gierat, Managing Director of WM International discusses the logistics industry since 2021, where a variety of factors including the pandemic and fuel prices have made for challenging times. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham … Continue reading “View from the Logistics Industry”