Navigating Recovery: From Shock to Sustainable Action

On 29 February, City REDI hosted its first speaker of the 2024 academic seminar series, Dr Lucy Natarajan from the Bartlett School of Planning. In this blog, Sara Hassan summarises the key points raised by Lucy in her presentation. Lucy presented her latest work which delves into the intricate process of recovery from disasters, stressing … Continue reading “Navigating Recovery: From Shock to Sustainable Action”

The Demand and Challenges of the Sprint Public Transport System in Birmingham

Sara Hassan and Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla discuss whether a Bus Rapid Transit system could help reduce passenger travel times. 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 of … Continue reading “The Demand and Challenges of the Sprint Public Transport System in Birmingham”

The Role of Universities in Birmingham’s Economy and Communities

Sara Hassan and Hannes Read discuss how universities in Birmingham can act as anchors and civic institutions for the benefit of the city-region.  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 … Continue reading “The Role of Universities in Birmingham’s Economy and Communities”

Trajectories of Young People From ‎Education to Employment

Sara Hassan reviews key evidence of changes in young people’s trajectories from education to employment in the West Midlands. The blog starts by explaining the UK context and then discusses key challenges and most effective recommendations. A selective review of research suggests that young people are not developing the relevant ‎skills for the future ‎labour … Continue reading “Trajectories of Young People From ‎Education to Employment”

Public Transport and Access to Healthcare in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas

Sara Hassan summarises the key takeaways from literature on public transport and healthcare services accessibility with a special focus on disadvantaged and deprived areas. Public transport (PT) is very important in terms of providing independence for groups of people who ‎cannot drive, cycle or walk; it provides them with the chance to access services such … Continue reading “Public Transport and Access to Healthcare in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Childcare and Implications for Participation in the Labour Market

In this blog, Dr Sara Hassan looks at the impact of COVID-19 on the childcare sector, a sector already facing significant challenges before the pandemic, which then saw a massive drop in usage when lockdowns began.  Since lockdown, many working parents have experienced difficulty in being able to work with some childcare providers closing their … Continue reading “The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Childcare and Implications for Participation in the Labour Market”

COVID-19 and the Impact on Crime in the West Midlands

In this blog, Dr Sara Hassan (WM REDI) and Emerzon Somera (West Midlands Combined Authority) look into how crime statistics have changed since lockdown began, and some of the factors that have influenced these changes. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, many speculated changes in crime. These statistics show the impact of COVID-19 on … Continue reading “COVID-19 and the Impact on Crime in the West Midlands”

Realising the Potential of Inclusive Growth – Lessons From USE-IT

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, Dr Sara Hassan … Continue reading “Realising the Potential of Inclusive Growth – Lessons From USE-IT”

How to USE-IT!

USE-IT! is a three-year European Union funded programme which aims to pioneer innovative approaches to inclusive urban development in an area of persistent poverty and deprivation in inner city Birmingham. The programme is framed around urban poverty and urban transformations and is led by Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) at the University of … Continue reading “How to USE-IT!”

Meet Dr Sara Hassan, Research Fellow at City-REDI

I recently joined City REDI and I am thrilled to be working with such a dynamic multidisciplinary team with a wide range of expertise both in policy and practice. I started working as a research fellow in the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) at the University of Birmingham in May 2017 on the … Continue reading “Meet Dr Sara Hassan, Research Fellow at City-REDI”