This week cases continue to rise in the UK and death rates associated with covid19 are now also on the rise. Significant outbreaks are happening in the North West but as yet the West Midlands is not seeing the same increases. However business sentiment after a stronger summer, as reported regionally by business representative organisations, … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 9th October 2020”
Category: West Midlands
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 2nd October 2020
This week, the ONS published a review of the last 6 months, and the effect the pandemic has had on people. As time has gone on more people believe it will be more than a year before life returns to normal, the lockdown has raised anxiety and it remains above the levels pre-COVID, but happiness … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 2nd October 2020”
Homeworking and the Return to the Office – Part One
In the first part of a blog looking at home working and the return to the office, Professor Anne Green and Rebecca Riley look at what kind of workers are homeworking, regional differences around the UK, what the situation is in the West Midlands and whether home working impacts on productivity. Part two looks at … Continue reading “Homeworking and the Return to the Office – Part One”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 25th September 2020
This week, rising infection rates have led to increased restrictions across the UK, bringing most places into line and increasing some restrictions in locked-down areas. The Prime Minister hinted at this being a medium-term (6 months) approach to bring the virus under control. Key issues Regional representative organisations say there are still lots of issues … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 25th September 2020”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 18th September 2020
This week, Coronavirus cases are rising and new regulations have been introduced to stop the spread of the virus, schools have returned but many are suffering temporary closures and universities are also opening. There has been significant disruption to testing nationally and the rise in cases has hampered the return to offices. Unemployment and claimant … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 18th September 2020”
The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19
Welcome to the second edition of REDI Updates. Recently we spoke to the Rt Hon Chris Pincher MP, Housing Minister at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the role housebuilding has in the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. Here’s what he said: This has been the most testing period in recent history. But … Continue reading “The REDI Interview: The Role of Housebuilding in the UK’s Recovery From COVID-19”
The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube
In our latest blog, Dr Charlotte Hoole unpicks the complex world of the local government systems and explains how the different tiers and authorities for each region inter-relate. Back in 2006, the then head of communications at the New Local Government Network was quoted in the Guardian as saying “the complexity of local government is … Continue reading “The Complexity of Local Government in England: The West Midlands’ Rubik’s Cube”
The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Older Workers
Professor Anne Green looks at the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown on the employment prospects of different age groups, focusing particularly on older workers and the challenges they face should they get made redundant. Introduction Much of the policy response in the wake of Covid-19 has focused on the plight of young people. … Continue reading “The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Older Workers”
Policy Briefing – Economic Recovery Post COVID-19: The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP)
In this policy briefing, Dr Chloe Billing, on behalf of the West Midlands MIT REAP team, discusses the development and analysis of a set of indicators to assess the capability to support Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the West Midlands region. In March 2020, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launched a pilot in the UK … Continue reading “Policy Briefing – Economic Recovery Post COVID-19: The MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (REAP)”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 28th August 2020
WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report relates to research … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 28th August 2020”