Meet Hannes Read, City-REDI’s New Policy and Data Analyst

I have a keen interest in economic development research, policy, and practice. In particular, I am interested in the links between place and the economy. I graduated with a BA in Geography and an MA in Local and Regional Development from Newcastle University. I am fascinated by how each place is unique and distinctive, and … Continue reading “Meet Hannes Read, City-REDI’s New Policy and Data Analyst”

Research Fellow Posts Available at City-REDI / WM REDI

Opportunities for Research Fellows to Work With Us at City-REDI on Our West Midlands Regional Economic Development Institute (WM REDI) Programme of Research To meet the demands of a growing range of policy-oriented research projects we are looking for 4 new members to join the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI). These posts are at the … Continue reading “Research Fellow Posts Available at City-REDI / WM REDI”

The West Midlands and Outer Space

Dr Chloe Billing explores what recent funding provided by the government to the University of Birmingham and its partners for space hubs will mean for the West Midlands. “Space is a means to various ends and not an end in itself.” Dr Chloe Billing Fifty-one years after the successful lunar landing by the U.S. Apollo … Continue reading “The West Midlands and Outer Space”

The City-REDI REsearch SYmposium (CRRESY)

On October 21st, City-REDI hosted its biannual research symposium. The online event has seen a range of presentations from City-REDI researchers showcasing some of the diversity of research in the Institute. Below is the programme of presentations, accompanied by the abstracts. Readers are encouraged to contact the presenters for more information on their research. CRRESY … Continue reading “The City-REDI REsearch SYmposium (CRRESY)”

Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery: How Can Universities Do Even More to Support Regions in Crisis?

On the 30th September, City-REDI / WM REDI and the Civic University Network held an event called “Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery“. The event began with a discussion between Lord Robert Kerslake (Chair of the Civic University Commission) Lord David Willetts (President – Resolution Foundation) and Sarah Davidson (CEO – Carnegie UK Trust). … Continue reading “Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery: How Can Universities Do Even More to Support Regions in Crisis?”

Commercialisation of University Research as a Pathway to Regional Growth

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 Chloe Billing … Continue reading “Commercialisation of University Research as a Pathway to Regional Growth”

COVID-19 and Impacts on Education and Training: Challenges and Opportunities

Professor Anne Green discusses the effect COVID-19 is having on education and skills, including the many challenges now faced, but also that Coronavirus provides an opportunity to reshape and reform the sector. School closures and accentuated inequalities in educational achievement Despite a move to online learning, there is considerable concern about school closures leading to … Continue reading “COVID-19 and Impacts on Education and Training: Challenges and Opportunities”

Conducting Qualitative Research During Times of Uncertainty

Dr Amir Qamar looks at the influence lockdown has had on qualitative research, and discusses the pros and cons of conducting research online. The following piece is taken from the latest Academy of International Business (AIB) Research Methods Shared Interest Group (RM SIG) newsletter, which can be found here. There are approximately 6.3 million Covid-19 … Continue reading “Conducting Qualitative Research During Times of Uncertainty”

How Can We Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Unemployment Crisis Through Lifelong Learning?

A new report by City-REDI and the Industrial Strategy Council presents evidence on some of the skills challenges facing the UK and how they might be addressed. Dr Abigail Taylor considers the key points in the report that are relevant to the West Midlands as it seeks to plan its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. … Continue reading “How Can We Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Unemployment Crisis Through Lifelong Learning?”

Universities and the Recovery of Local Communities From the COVID-19 Crisis: A Role for the Social Sciences

In this blog, Professor John Goddard and Des McNulty discuss how COVID-19 provides an opportunity for social science and universities to contribute to the recovery and renewal not just of the nation, but of their areas and regions, contributing to ‘levelling up’. It was originally commissioned and published by the Campaign for Social Science as … Continue reading “Universities and the Recovery of Local Communities From the COVID-19 Crisis: A Role for the Social Sciences”