A recent survey I conducted of employers in Coventry in the West Midlands found that while 80% of the businesses we interviewed had hard-to-fill job vacancies, less than 5% had employed a refugee and nearly one-third had never even considered hiring one. Yet, for most refugees, integration into their new home is heavily dependent on … Continue reading “Employers Wary of Hiring Refugees and Migrants to Help Fill Shortages Need Help Understanding the Law”
Author: Catherine Harris
The Birmingham Economic Review 2018: People – Population and Employment
This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, with contributions from the West Midlands Growth Company. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2018: People – Population and Employment”
International and Internal Labour Migration and the City – AAG Annual Meeting 2018
The American Association of Geographers Annual meeting 2018 is being held from 10-14 April in New Orleans, USA. It features over 6,000 presentations, posters and workshops by leading scholars, experts, and researchers. In attendance from City REDI, as well as giving papers and organising sessions, are Professor Anne Green, Professor John Bryson and Dr Catherine … Continue reading “International and Internal Labour Migration and the City – AAG Annual Meeting 2018”
Women in Economic Development Research – Why the Woman’s Voice is Crucial: Part 2, View from a Senior Research Fellow
This series of blogs celebrates women in economic development and the contribution we make. They are inspired by the current experience of City-REDI which is pretty unusual in its numbers of women at all levels in the team; from senior management and leading academics, through to early career researchers and project support. We all have … Continue reading “Women in Economic Development Research – Why the Woman’s Voice is Crucial: Part 2, View from a Senior Research Fellow”
Workers on the move: does Brexit threaten social justice and the economy?
The 20th February 2018 sees the World Day of Social Justice. Social justice is an underlying principle of peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. For the United Nations, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of their global mission to promote development and human dignity. The adoption by the International … Continue reading “Workers on the move: does Brexit threaten social justice and the economy?”
The Age of the ‘Olderpreneur’
‘Entrepreneur’ is usually a term people associate with the stereotypical twenty-something university graduate starting a business from their bedroom. However, in recent years it appears that the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs are people aged 50 and over, referred to as ‘seniorpreneurs’ or ‘olderpreneurs’. The number of businesses run by people aged over 55 has increased … Continue reading “The Age of the ‘Olderpreneur’”
The Birmingham Economic Review 2017: Population and Employment
The Birmingham Economic Review was produced in October 2017 by City-REDI, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the West Midlands Growth Company. The review highlights the current strengths and weakness of the Birmingham economy, as well as looking at the opportunities and threats that might impact upon it in the future. This is a commentary on Chapter 6 of … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2017: Population and Employment”
University of Birmingham Research Conference, 2017
On 26th September 2017, the University of Birmingham held their first research conference. The theme was ‘Research Futures’ and provided an opportunity to discuss open research questions whilst exploring current issues around the delivery of effective & impactful research. It was aimed at the University’s academic staff, and staff supporting research. City REDI’s Catherine Harris and … Continue reading “University of Birmingham Research Conference, 2017”
City REDI at the RSA Annual Conference 2017, Dublin
The RSA Annual Conference 2017 was held 4-7 June in Dublin. The conference theme was The Great Regional Awakening: New Directions and it featured presentations and panel sessions by leading scholars, experts, and researchers. In attendance from City REDI were Professor Anne Green, Professor Raquel Ortega Argiles, Dr Catherine Harris and Deniz Sevinc. City-REDI organised … Continue reading “City REDI at the RSA Annual Conference 2017, Dublin”
Conservatives talk tough but bring nothing new on immigration
The Conservatives commitment to controlling immigration has regularly been questioned after they repeatedly failed to meet their net migration target. Now, the party’s election manifesto outlines its immigration policies for the next parliament, and how they would be implemented. The Conservatives are proposing to keep their “ambition” of delivering annual net migration in the tens of thousands, which … Continue reading “Conservatives talk tough but bring nothing new on immigration”