The Birmingham Economic Review was produced in October 2017 by City-REDI, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the West Midlands Growth Company. The review highlights the current strengths and weakness of the Birmingham economy, as well as looking at the opportunities and threats that might impact upon it in the future. This is a commentary on Chapter 7 of … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2017: Skills and Labour Market”
Category: Policy
Growing and Aligning Demand and Supply of Skills for Inclusive Growth
A key challenge for the UK and its regions and cities is low productivity vis-à-vis competitors. Employers are not necessarily investing in capital: uncertainty is a key factor here. But employment levels are at historic highs at 75.3% in September 2017, with 32.14 million people in employment. Unemployment rates have fallen: a rate of 4.3%, the … Continue reading “Growing and Aligning Demand and Supply of Skills for Inclusive Growth”
Is the government’s new industrial strategy really a game changer?
The blog was first published in the NS Tech, part of the New Statesman. The reality is when dealing with productivity there are fundamental drivers academia and policy have recognised for a long time, so making the next iteration of policy different and new is incredibly hard. The government’s industrial strategy white paper is no different; there is … Continue reading “Is the government’s new industrial strategy really a game changer?”
Driving Innovation in the UK Space Sector
The space sector forms a key part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy to spread economic growth across the UK. This reflects the growing importance of satellite-enabled communications and applications to UK businesses and the day-to-day life of its citizens. Smart cities, energy infrastructure, emergency response, food security, environmental monitoring, weather services, and road/rail/maritime traffic management … Continue reading “Driving Innovation in the UK Space Sector”
Professor Simon Collinson interviewed on Radio 4 regarding the Industrial Strategy
Professor Simon Collinson was interviewed this morning (27/11/17), on Radio 4’s Today Show. The interview was part of a panel commentary on the Industrial Strategy, which was published by the government today. Professor Collinson submitted a series of key points on the Industrial Strategy to the show, some of which was covered briefly in the interview: … Continue reading “Professor Simon Collinson interviewed on Radio 4 regarding the Industrial Strategy”
The continental divide? Economic exposure to Brexit in regions and countries on both sides of the Channel
This blog was first posted on The UK in a Changing Europe website. You can view more details about the project here. The work of our international research team, led by City-REDI Institute at the University of Birmingham, has so far focused on assessing the size of the Brexit-related risk exposure for the UK, every other EU … Continue reading “The continental divide? Economic exposure to Brexit in regions and countries on both sides of the Channel”
#Budget2017 – Sailing the ship in troubling times
This year’s autumn statement paints a dramatic statement for growth prospects, with the growth forecast for 2017 downgraded from 2% to 1.5% and GDP falling further to 1.4%, 1.3% and not rising until 2020. Business investment has been revised down and CPI forecasts it to fall later this year. £3bn has been set aside to … Continue reading “#Budget2017 – Sailing the ship in troubling times”
The Birmingham Economic Review 2017 – Transport
The Birmingham Economic Review was produced in October 2017 by City-REDI, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the West Midlands Growth Company. The review highlights the current strengths and weakness of the Birmingham economy, as well as looking at the opportunities and threats that might impact upon it in the future. This is a commentary on Chapter 3 of … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2017 – Transport”
New York to Birmingham – why the Birmingham Economic Review matters internationally
Writing economic reviews is a fine art. There is a delicate balance to be struck between the realistic representation of a place and developing our understanding so we can improve it, painting a picture which does not undermine that which we wish to improve. City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Chambers launched the Birmingham … Continue reading “New York to Birmingham – why the Birmingham Economic Review matters internationally”
Mayors should be ignored by the government at their peril – the redefinition of democratic power
Joseph Chamberlain ‘got things resolved’ despite not having the powers of the new mayors said John Cridland, chair of Transport for the North, at last week’s DevoQT event at the Tory Party conference in Manchester. The power to convene, bang heads together and drive change just by virtue of the office was a theme emphasised … Continue reading “Mayors should be ignored by the government at their peril – the redefinition of democratic power”