The Spring Statement: The Impact

Alice Pugh looks at what impacts cuts to National Insurance Contributions, raising the high-income child benefit charge, and public spending will have on households in the UK. Cuts to National insurance Contributions (NICs) The NIC main rate has been cut by 2p in the pound (from 10% to 8%) for an expected 27.6m employees and … Continue reading “The Spring Statement: The Impact”

Spring Statement 2024: Key Announcements

  The Spring Budget sets out government spending for the next 5 years, this budget has been anticipated as being a particularly important budget, as it is likely the last budget before the 2024 general election. Alice Pugh looks at the key announcements from this budget. Office for Budget Responsibility On the day of the … Continue reading “Spring Statement 2024: Key Announcements”

Inequality

Professor Donald Houston discusses the effects of inequality on social cohesion, wellbeing, and the economy, and how it can be reduced in the long run. This article is a chapter from the recently published UK in a Changing Europe report. Inequality – the gap between those towards the top and bottom of the income distribution … Continue reading “Inequality”

Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Cities and Regions: Emergence, Evolution and Future

Professor Fumi Kitagawa provides an overview of the edited volume published by Oxford University Press: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Cities and Regions: Emergence, Evolution and Future, with her co-editors – Robert Huggins, Daniel Prokop (Cardiff University), Christina Theodoraki (TBS Business School) and Piers Thompson (Nottingham Trent University). Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Cities and Regions Over the last … Continue reading “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Cities and Regions: Emergence, Evolution and Future”

Workshop Insights: International Perceptions and Megatrends of Manufacturing

Dr Chloe Billing reflects on a recent workshop she attended on International perceptions and megatrends of manufacturing. I recently attended a workshop on international perceptions and megatrends in manufacturing. Hosted by Aston Business School, it featured various experts and practitioners sharing their insights on the current manufacturing landscape and the strategies required for its positive … Continue reading “Workshop Insights: International Perceptions and Megatrends of Manufacturing”

International Students in the West Midlands: Economic Impact and the Challenges of Graduate Retention

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the second part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part II discusses the challenges faced by international students upon their graduation from British universities. View part I – International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: Economic Impact and the Challenges of Graduate Retention”

Forging Future Frontiers: The Power of Collaborative Clusters in the UK Space Sector

Chloe Billing discusses the Midlands Space Cluster project, which aims to propel the region’s space capabilities forward and establish a dedicated cluster in the region. The United Kingdom’s space sector is experiencing a resurgence, marked by an era of rapid growth and groundbreaking innovation. At the recent UK Space Conference, it was stressed that this … Continue reading “Forging Future Frontiers: The Power of Collaborative Clusters in the UK Space Sector”

International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the first part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part I sets the scene by providing the number of students in the region. Introduction The United Kingdom has long been a favourite destination for international students to pursue their higher … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications”

Exploring the Future Frontiers: Key Themes from the UK Space Conference 2023

Chloe Billing reflects on her time at this year’s UK Space Conference. I recently attended the 2023 UK Space Conference (a biennial event) held at the ICC in Belfast. Throughout the three-day conference, diverse sessions—from plenary talks to breakout sessions and short talks—provided comprehensive insights into the UK Space sectors’ strengths and opportunities for growth. … Continue reading “Exploring the Future Frontiers: Key Themes from the UK Space Conference 2023”

The Autumn Statement 2023: The Impacts

Alice Pugh looks at the impact of the Autumn Budget on households, businesses and public services. View Alice’s previous blog on this topic – Key Announcements Autumn Statement 2023 Household Impact  The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that the changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for employees and the self-employed, will only give … Continue reading “The Autumn Statement 2023: The Impacts”