On 3 September, we brought together researchers from Universities of Birmingham, Curtin, Strathclyde and the OECD at the University of Birmingham for a meeting of the Regional Economic Modelling Group. Regional economics remains highly relevant to policy, and regional models have an important role in informing evidence-based policy decisions. The workshop was an opportunity to … Continue reading “How Regional Models can Inform Policy Decisions- Notes from the Regional Economic Modelling Group Meeting”
Category: Economics
The London Problem Has Morphed
In a new series of blogs following a Senior Leaders roundtable, we hear from Hilary Smyth-Allen, CEO of SuperTech, the West Midlands’ cluster body for financial and professional services technology and partner of City-REDI, co-producing the evidence base for the region’s Next Generation Services cluster sector. In 2019, we worried about talent leaving the West … Continue reading “The London Problem Has Morphed”
Innovation is not a London-or-the-regions choice
Professor Rebecca Riley expands on arguments she recently made in a letter published in the Financial Times in response to an article by Michael Spence, President and Provost of UCL, on London’s role in the UK’s innovation economy. The issues it raises about innovation, regional growth and institutional capacity deserve a lengthier discussion than a newspaper letter can … Continue reading “Innovation is not a London-or-the-regions choice”
Improving Employment Outcomes for Young People in Birmingham
New City-REDI and Rigby Foundation report launched in Westminster setting out a roadmap for improving employment outcomes for young people in Birmingham. On 14 July, a team from City-REDI officially launched a major new report on the labour market challenges and opportunities facing young people in Birmingham at a Westminster reception attended by parliamentarians, business … Continue reading “Improving Employment Outcomes for Young People in Birmingham”
From Football City to Civic Lab: What Wrexham can Teach us about Building innovation ecosystems that last
Wrexham’s recent global spotlight from football success has coincided with a quieter but equally important story of how the city, led in part by Wrexham University, is embedding inclusive innovation into everyday practice to build a collaborative, resilient ecosystem that can sustain long-term change. The three consecutive promotions of Wrexham football club have casted a … Continue reading “From Football City to Civic Lab: What Wrexham can Teach us about Building innovation ecosystems that last”
What Aston Villa’s Europa League Win Tells Us About the 2026 English Local Elections
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”
Report Spotlight: Bridging the Innovation Gap through Innovation Intermediaries
In a new series of blogs, we will be looking at the current and historical work of City-REDI. In this instalment, Dr Chloe Billing shares findings from a report on innovation intermediaries and their role in regional innovation systems, co-authored with Dr Carolin Ioramashvili, Dr Pei-Yu Yuan, Dr Magda Rosario Cepeda Zorrilla, Professor Simon Collinson, … Continue reading “Report Spotlight: Bridging the Innovation Gap through Innovation Intermediaries”
Understanding the Major Challenges Facing UK businesses and the Economy – Evidence Submission
Dr Huanjia Ma recently contributed to a Business and Trade Committee call for evidence on behalf of City-REDI, University of Birmingham. This blog explores his submission. The committee was trying to understand the major challenges facing UK businesses and the economy, including costs, regulation, skills shortages, and investment barriers. This in turn would help support … Continue reading “Understanding the Major Challenges Facing UK businesses and the Economy – Evidence Submission”
When Projects Don’t Go to Plan: What I Learned From My Public Policy Internship
Intern Arran Benton reflects on their time as part of City-REDI and their work on Shaping Birmingham Futures Together. The initial project When I started the internship at City-REDI I didn’t really know what to expect, nor did I know a huge deal about how the world of policy operates, but after going through this … Continue reading “When Projects Don’t Go to Plan: What I Learned From My Public Policy Internship”
The Birmingham Economic Review 2025
Dr Matthew Lyons summarises the annual Birmingham Economic Review 2025, in collaboration with the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the City Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The report launched on Thursday 4th of December at The … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2025”