Universities’ STEM Assets Project – An Intern’s Insight

During his summer placement with WMREDI, Robert Lynam has been working with the rest of the Theme 3 Regional Innovation Ecosystems research team on the initial phase of a project which City-REDI/WMREDI are delivering on “Universities’ STEM Assets: Commercial and Non-Commercial Pathways and Aggregate Impacts“. In this blog, Robert tells us about his contribution to … Continue reading “Universities’ STEM Assets Project – An Intern’s Insight”

Good Jobs in the Midlands After COVID

Tony Dobbins and Anne Green outline some of the key points discussed at a recent event looking at good work in the Midlands. Speakers at a joint Work Inclusivity Research Centre (WIRC) and City-REDI webinar on June 24th 2021 debated research and policy ideas in support of good work in the English Midlands. Comparisons were … Continue reading “Good Jobs in the Midlands After COVID”

Serendipity Doesn’t Have to Be Left to Chance

In the final blog of a series exploring the power of anchor institution networks, Conrad Parke discovers that what sometimes looks like serendipity is really intent. This blog was first published on the CLES website.  You can view the other blogs below:  Anchor Network Supply Chain Hub: A Proposal Anchor Institution Networks: One Idea, Many … Continue reading “Serendipity Doesn’t Have to Be Left to Chance”

Levelling Up in the Knowledge Economy: Can the Ruhr Shake off its Rust?

Professor Matthias Kiese discusses the structural transformation of the Ruhr in Germany, a region attempting to leave behind its industrial past and move towards a knowledge-based economy.   A broader analysis looking at the progress the Ruhr region has made towards levelling up over the last five decades can be found in the Industrial Strategy Council’s … Continue reading “Levelling Up in the Knowledge Economy: Can the Ruhr Shake off its Rust?”

Anchor Network Supply Chain Hub: A Proposal

The third blog in a series blog exploring the mechanisms for anchor institution networks to deliver on their aspiration to create and reinforce local economic ties. Read part one and part two.  Conrad Parke details the thinking behind a proposal to create a supply chain hub to service the Birmingham Anchor Network. This idea is covered in … Continue reading “Anchor Network Supply Chain Hub: A Proposal”

Budget Breakdown 2021 and the Key Points for the West Midlands

Mike Lewis, Senior Policy Officer at the West Midlands Combined Authority provides a breakdown of HMG’s Budget announcement 2021 and highlights some of the key points of interest to the West Midlands.  Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented HMG’s Budget 2021 to the House of Commons on 3 March 2021. The Chancellor outlined measures … Continue reading “Budget Breakdown 2021 and the Key Points for the West Midlands”

Anchor Institution Networks: One Idea, Many Options

This is the second in a series of blogs exploring the mechanisms for anchor institution networks to deliver on their aspiration to create and reinforce local economic ties. Conrad Parke, Birmingham Anchor Network Coordinator, explores the process of translating principles into practice and different models employed for establishing a network by two neighbouring places in … Continue reading “Anchor Institution Networks: One Idea, Many Options”

Economic Justice in Birmingham and the Black Country Shows That Levelling-up Needs to Focus on People Not Areas

In this blog, Peter Kenway, Director for the New Policy Institute discusses their new report looking at the state of economic justice in Birmingham and the Black Country.   NPI’s new report on economic justice, published by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, assembles the statistics to tell a story that people who live in Birmingham and the … Continue reading “Economic Justice in Birmingham and the Black Country Shows That Levelling-up Needs to Focus on People Not Areas”

A First Look at Quantifying Skills Pathways

In this blog, Alex Smith from the West Midlands Combined Authority looks at what data can tell us about where in the education and skills system, social mobility is the strongest, and where it is weakest. This blog is an introduction to the WM REDI project “Understanding and Addressing Skills Impacts and Needs“. The project … Continue reading “A First Look at Quantifying Skills Pathways”

Anchor Networks in Practice:“Why?” to “How?”

This is the first in a series of blogs exploring the mechanisms for anchor institution networks to deliver on their aspiration to create and reinforce local economic ties. View the second blog.  Conrad Parke, Birmingham Anchor Network Coordinator, explores the mechanisms of turning buy-in into action. This blog was first published on the CLES website.  … Continue reading “Anchor Networks in Practice:“Why?” to “How?””