Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2019

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This year’s Birmingham Economic Review shows Birmingham is on a roll, but challenges around income inequality and deprivation remain.  

This year’s Birmingham Economic Review – a collaboration between Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and City-REDI – was launched last week to a packed room of delegates from across the city-region.

The event was opened by Professor Richard Black, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Head of the College of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham who welcomed the attendees to the University.

Next Saqib Bhatti, Director of Younis Bhatti & Co. and President of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce welcomed attendees to the Birmingham Economic Review and highlighted the importance of the Chamber’s partnership with City-REDI, University of Birmingham in producing the Birmingham Economic Review because “to make strong economic decisions we need strong economic data from reports like this”. He then introduced the panel for the Birmingham Economic Review:

he panel members at the Birmingham Economic Review from left to right: Professor Simon Collinson, Wincie Wong, Saqib Bhatti and Nick Chism
The panel members at the Birmingham Economic Review 2019 from left to right: Professor Simon Collinson, Wincie Wong, Saqib Bhatti and Nick Chism
  • Professor Simon Collinson, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Economic Engagement, Director of the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI), Professor of International Business and Innovation, University of Birmingham
  • Wincie Wong, Head of Rose Review Implementation, NatWest
  • Councillor Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council
  • Nick Chism, Chief Business Adviser, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

Delegates then heard from City-REDI’s director, Professor Simon Collinson,  who presented the key data emerging from the region around economic growth, challenges on the need for inclusive growth, and the risk of EU-withdrawal on a region heavily dependent on the export of goods. (Download the full presentation).

The take-home findings were:

📈 GVA has increased by 6.3%

👩‍171 new FDI projects have generated 9,424 new jobs

👔Professional and financial services account for 28% of GVA

🏙 Birmingham’s visitor economy increased by 53.4% in the last 10 years – an increase of £2.5 billion.

A slide from Professor Simon Collinson's presentation
A slide from Professor Simon Collinson’s presentation

The region is young and diverse, a fact that has been celebrated extensively, but data in the report revealed that Birmingham is the biggest destination for inward migration outside of London, the most attractive for inward investment, and the third biggest for foreign direct investment.

“Birmingham”, as Professor Collinson said, “is on a roll”.

Delegates also heard from Cllr. Brigid Jones, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council.

Celebrating the strengths of the region as outlined in the report, she said that many underestimate the size of the city and that there are three EU states smaller than Birmingham. Cllr Jones also highlighted the challenges ahead for the city. She noted that: “going forward we need to build a shared city narrative… that is inclusive and brings people along.”

One such challenge is air pollution, which the city council is aiming to address with a new Clean Air Zone.

Under the scheme – due to be implemented over the summer in 2020 – certain vehicles will be liable for a charge when they enter the city centre. Cllr Jones admitted that the scheme may have some impact on businesses, but reminded delegates that every 10 hours someone dies prematurely due to the effects of pollution. A driving force for the policy is the need to substantially reduce the harm of pollution on Birmingham’s residents.

Picture of the attendees at the Birmingham Economic Review 2019
A full house at the launch Birmingham Economic Review 2019

Persistent intra-regional inequality remains a significant challenge. The employment rate is 65.3% compared to the national rate of 75%. Unemployment for the 16-64 age group is stubbornly high, 7.8% compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Additionally, the Index of Multiple Deprivation shows 56.4% of Birmingham’s population live in the most deprived 20% areas in England.

Birmingham is undergoing exceptional, perhaps unprecedented growth. The city is changing and it is regaining its confidence again. However, current economic growth is not following an inclusive trajectory. This was a point picked up by Nick Chism, Chief Business Adviser at Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy stated that it was important that as the city grew, local communities should be included in this growth too.

Wincie Wong, head of the Rose Review Implementation at Natwest, also talked about the need for inclusive growth in Birmingham. She told attendees that the Rose Review highlighted that there are less female entrepreneurs than male counterparts and if the rate was levelled-up then female entrepreneurs would add an additional £250bn to the national economy.

The launch of the review had one clear message: For Birmingham to reach the full height of its potential, economic growth needs to reach all corners of the city, and every community.

Download a copy of the Birmingham Economic Review.


This blog was written by Ben Brittain, Data and Policy Analyst, City-REDI.

Disclaimer: 
The opinions presented here belong to the author rather than the University of Birmingham.

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