In May 2026, Aston Villa won the Europa League, their first European trophy for 44 years. England have two more representatives, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, in the finals of the Champions League and Conference League – the other two major European competitions. This can be a cause for celebration of the strength of English football. … Continue reading “What Aston Villa’s Europa League Win Tells Us About the 2026 English Local Elections”
Category: Cities
Report Spotlight: Soft Spaces of Governance and Covid 19 Economic Recovery
In a new series of blogs, we will be reviewing the current and historical work of City-REDI. In the next blog of the series, Charlotte Hoole talks about her report on soft spaces of government and the covid-19 economic recovery. How did places respond when formal systems were under unprecedented strain? Research by Charlotte Hoole, … Continue reading “Report Spotlight: Soft Spaces of Governance and Covid 19 Economic Recovery”
Budget 2025: What Does the Budget mean for the East Midlands?
In this blog, Johannes Read has provided a breakdown of what the budget announcement means for the East Midlands. This blog was produced for Midlands Business Insider. Devolution in the East Midlands has come a long way in recent years. What started with announcements in 2022 and 2023 of a devolution deal to form the … Continue reading “Budget 2025: What Does the Budget mean for the East Midlands?”
Birmingham’s Economic Miracle – How can everyone benefit?
I recently spoke at the Lunar Society, attempting to discuss this topic, an “expert view”. In looking at addressing these questions I thought about a more provocation approach, but first breaking down the topics in the question: Has Birmingham experienced an economic Miracle? Do people benefit? How can they benefit? Watching the recent news, it … Continue reading “Birmingham’s Economic Miracle – How can everyone benefit?”
How will Labour Deliver Innovation led Growth? Lesson Learnt from the Innovation Accelerator Pilots
On 9th October, City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham hosted a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference on how to accelerate placed-based growth and innovation. Rebecca Riley and Steve Barwick reflect on the key points discussed at the fringe event. The event was chaired by Matt Western MP, Shadow Minister for Higher Education and … Continue reading “How will Labour Deliver Innovation led Growth? Lesson Learnt from the Innovation Accelerator Pilots”
The 15-Minute City: Good Urban Planning or an Attack on Personal Freedoms?
At the recent Conservative Party Conference, the 15-minute city was highlighted as an attack on personal freedom. In this blog, Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla looks at what a 15-minute city is, gives examples of where it’s been implemented and whether it might restrict people’s freedom. The Department for Transport (DfT) recently released the Plan for Drivers document, … Continue reading “The 15-Minute City: Good Urban Planning or an Attack on Personal Freedoms?”
The LPIP Hub: What are Cities and What Role do They Play in our Social, Economic, and Environmental Systems?
Rebecca Riley recently attended an RSA Urban Futures Roundtable looking at the potential of the UK’s cities. In a series of blogs, Rebecca reflects on the challenges facing places in building regenerative economies. In the first blog, Rebecca asks what are cities and looks at the role they play in our social, economic, and environmental … Continue reading “The LPIP Hub: What are Cities and What Role do They Play in our Social, Economic, and Environmental Systems?”
Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands
Anne Green, David Waite and Richard Crisp discusses their new paper which compares the five leading agendas that have been positioned as alternative and progressive policy responses to urban economic change. Decades of traditional growth-oriented economic policies have failed to stem widening social inequalities and rising environmental challenges. This has triggered growing interest amongst policymakers … Continue reading “Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands”
Birmingham in Crisis: Understanding the Challenge of Local Authority Budget Cuts and the Effect on Good Financial Management
Rebecca Riley and Abigail Taylor discusses the recent financial crisis to hit Birmingham City Council, and how the root of the issues facing this council and others around the UK, are a decade in the making. This week it was announced that Birmingham City Council faces a spending freeze and greater scrutiny of its budget. An … Continue reading “Birmingham in Crisis: Understanding the Challenge of Local Authority Budget Cuts and the Effect on Good Financial Management”
Red Flag and Data City: A Comparison
Reen Blake-Carr looks at two companies providing economic and business data and assesses their similarities and differences. With thanks to Charlie Hopkirk, Black Country Consortium for his input into the development of this blog. What is Red Flag Alert? Red Flag Alert is a company that was founded in 2004 to help identify new business … Continue reading “Red Flag and Data City: A Comparison”