Professor Simon Collinson and Dr Amir Qamar were recently featured in a report on data by Prospect magazine. The report, called “Data as Infrastructure” puts together a series of articles and essays on “Smart cities” and how local authorities are beginning to see data as another form of infrastructure. Simon and Amir’s chapter titled “Smart … Continue reading “City-REDI feature in “Data as Infrastructure” report”
Inclusive Growth Principles for Cities
‘Inclusive growth’ is increasingly invoked at international, national and city levels as offering prospects for more equitable social outcomes. Yet the concept of inclusive growth is open to a number of different interpretations. This has not stopped interest in developing inclusive growth indicators. In the USA the Brookings Institution has developed and combined indicators measuring … Continue reading “Inclusive Growth Principles for Cities”
University of Birmingham Research Conference, 2017
On 26th September 2017, the University of Birmingham held their first research conference. The theme was ‘Research Futures’ and provided an opportunity to discuss open research questions whilst exploring current issues around the delivery of effective & impactful research. It was aimed at the University’s academic staff, and staff supporting research. City REDI’s Catherine Harris and … Continue reading “University of Birmingham Research Conference, 2017”
Has Brexit reshaped British Politics?
POLSIS (Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham) hosted the first of their seminar series last week which saw the legendary Professor John Curtice – the nation’s leading expert on elections, voting and public opinion and “the man who won the 2017 elections” – assess last year’s EU Referendum result and British … Continue reading “Has Brexit reshaped British Politics?”
Birmingham Policy Lab: Financing Local Public Services
The University of Birmingham and City-REDI would like to invite you to a Birmingham Policy Lab workshop to explore the theme of the financing local public services. As demands on public services grow and austerity looks set to continue, the need to reform and look afresh at the financing of local public services is more … Continue reading “Birmingham Policy Lab: Financing Local Public Services”
Young people’s pathways into work
Young people’s pathways into work On 28 September 2017 a team of researchers from various Midlands’ universities launched their preliminary findings report Present Tense, Future Imperfect: Young people’s pathways into work at the final event for an ESRC project on Precarious Pathways into Work for Young People. The event was chaired by Matthew Taylor, following … Continue reading “Young people’s pathways into work”
Connectivity and growth – are Engines, Powerhouses, Combined authorities the solution?
“If devolution is a journey, the current deals are not the destination”, was an underlying theme in the discussion at the City-REDI sponsored the Labour Party Conference fringe event on connectivity and growth (organised by Devo Connect). The current approach of making cities and (as Sir John Peace pointed out) other areas compete for limited … Continue reading “Connectivity and growth – are Engines, Powerhouses, Combined authorities the solution?”
Supporting more inclusive employment outcomes in growth sectors
In National Inclusion Week and as part of The Work Foundation’s autumn event series, on 27th September City REDI’s Anne Green, with Paul Sissons from Coventry University and Neil Lee from the LSE, presented findings and discussed policy implications from their ESRC-funded research project on Harnessing Growth Sectors for Poverty Reduction: What Work to Reduce Poverty Through … Continue reading “Supporting more inclusive employment outcomes in growth sectors”
Smart Cities
Given that by 2050 approximately two thirds of the world’s total population will be living in cities, we have to make cities creative, innovative and sustainable places to do business. This emphasises the importance of ‘smart cities’, and we recommend the following: Developing the right kinds of skills and expertise is central to unlocking opportunities … Continue reading “Smart Cities”
City REDI round up
It’s been a busy month for the City-REDI team. Here’s a round-up of what we’ve been up to… Local and Central Government: On the invitation of the Mayor of Birmingham, Andy Street, Professor Simon Collinson has joined the ‘West Midlands Funding for Growth Commission’. The Commission met on Monday 4th September 2017 and will work … Continue reading “City REDI round up”