This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2019 is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, with contributions from the West Midlands Growth Company. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second … Continue reading “Research Funding as a Driver of Growth”
Category: Government
What is Transport Resilience?
Welcome to part three in our new series “What is…?” where we explain the language, terms and ideas used in our day-to-day work. Other blogs from the series include: What is GVA? What is Smart Specialisation? What are Industrial Clusters and Economies of Agglomeration? Definition and description Transport is necessary at the national and international … Continue reading “What is Transport Resilience?”
Employers Wary of Hiring Refugees and Migrants to Help Fill Shortages Need Help Understanding the Law
A recent survey I conducted of employers in Coventry in the West Midlands found that while 80% of the businesses we interviewed had hard-to-fill job vacancies, less than 5% had employed a refugee and nearly one-third had never even considered hiring one. Yet, for most refugees, integration into their new home is heavily dependent on … Continue reading “Employers Wary of Hiring Refugees and Migrants to Help Fill Shortages Need Help Understanding the Law”
Is the Government Going to ‘Make Buses Great Again’?
At the Conservative Party Conference, the Government seemed adamant to talk about buses. But, for what reason would the Government want to make buses a key transport-policy subject? At the conference, the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, proclaimed; “Buses haven’t been given the attention they deserve from politicians. But they are still the backbone of our public transport … Continue reading “Is the Government Going to ‘Make Buses Great Again’?”
Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Previous blogs in this devolution series have considered the political and economic benefits of devolving decision-making power and looked at the situation in England, with the new combined authorities and the office of the Mayor of London. The countries of the Celtic fringe of the UK – namely Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – also … Continue reading “Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”
West Midlands Economic Monitor: September 2019
September’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month posted mixed performance data for the region, with current figures showing a PMI of 47.5, whilst ONS data showed the West Midlands grew faster than any other region in … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: September 2019”
What is the Extent of Devolution in England?
Across the UK there is a range of devolution models in operation. This blog will consider the form that devolution takes among the new combined authorities in England and the Greater London Authority in the capital. It is part of a series of blog looking at devolution and follows on from a previous blog asking … Continue reading “What is the Extent of Devolution in England?”
What Is the Point of Devolution?
It is not uncommon to hear that the UK is the most centralised country in the developed world. London utterly dominates the rest of the country to an extent that is quite remarkable. From politics to business, media to culture, the wealth and power of the UK is almost entirely within London’s orbit. Indeed, if … Continue reading “What Is the Point of Devolution?”
West Midlands Economic Monitor: August 2019
August’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month’s monitor reveals that PMI data has improved, the region is bucking the trend on investment and a tall-build boom in Birmingham continues to gain momentum. Get the latest edition … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: August 2019”
Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act
On 11 November 1918, the war to end all wars, World War 1, ended with the signing of the armistice. The next day, David Lloyd George, then UK prime minister, called a general election promising that the government would provide “habitations fit for the heroes who have won the war”. This became known as the … Continue reading “Housing and Local Industrial Strategy: Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of the Addison Act”