Apprenticeships have a long history in England. They have their roots in medieval craft guilds. Children went away to live with host families for the purpose of being taught the skills associated with a craft. The 1563 Statute of Artificers marked the first national system of apprenticeship training in England. The Statute required seven years … Continue reading “Shaping apprenticeships to employer, economic and individual young people’s needs – does too much reform bring risks?”
Snow, Snow, Glorious Snow: Funding and Financing Local Infrastructure in the UK
Snow, snow, glorious snow. The UK is currently experiencing the impacts of the ‘beast from the east’ as cold air from Russia and eastern Europe creates the conditions that produce, in many parts of the UK, transport chaos. This type of periodic weather disruption to infrastructure is a reminder of how reliant we are on … Continue reading “Snow, Snow, Glorious Snow: Funding and Financing Local Infrastructure in the UK”
Research Collaboration in Quantitative Economic Modelling is Now Set Up!
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Colorado State University and City-REDI research collaboration in quantitative economic modelling is now set up. Professor Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, founding Director of REAL, the Regional Economic Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and Professor Stephan Weiler, founding Director of REDI@CSU, the Regional Economic Development Institute at … Continue reading “Research Collaboration in Quantitative Economic Modelling is Now Set Up!”
UK Automotive Supply Chains Are Not Lean!
With its origins traceable to the Japanese Toyota Production System and the publication of one of the best-selling books amongst both academics and practitioners, ‘The Machine that Changed the World’, the concept of lean production has received substantial attention and has become well embedded within automotive studies in Operations Management (OM) and Supply Chain Management … Continue reading “UK Automotive Supply Chains Are Not Lean!”
How Brexit will hit different UK regions and industries
The very areas of the UK which voted Leave in June 2016 are likely to be the ones hardest hit by Brexit. Our research on the likely economic consequences of leaving the European Union on different regions and industries is consistent with the recently leaked government analysis which suggests that London will be one of … Continue reading “How Brexit will hit different UK regions and industries”
Workers on the move: does Brexit threaten social justice and the economy?
The 20th February 2018 sees the World Day of Social Justice. Social justice is an underlying principle of peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. For the United Nations, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of their global mission to promote development and human dignity. The adoption by the International … Continue reading “Workers on the move: does Brexit threaten social justice and the economy?”
Devolution: Are cities on track in the worst of times?
Regardless of the arguments for and against, the subject of devolution is here to stay. The unprecedented interest levels in the EU Referendum meant that record numbers of people voted, and at its core, this was a reflection on devolution, and who makes decisions on our behalf. So, how far has devolution come? In a … Continue reading “Devolution: Are cities on track in the worst of times?”
Reflections on democracy – How far have we come since 1918?
Over the years I have written a number of blogs on democracy and voting, and with the 100 year anniversary, I wanted to take some time to reflect on progress. As someone who grew up thinking everyone was taught at school about the suffragist and suffragette movements, it continues to astound me how we take … Continue reading “Reflections on democracy – How far have we come since 1918?”
Valentine’s Day and the Commodification of Love or the Economic Impacts of Courtship
Valentine was a 3rd century martyr, or was he? There are two Valentines associated with the 14 February. First, a Roman priest who was martyred supposedly under the rule of Claudius and, second, a bishop of Terni who was martyred in Rome but whose remains were then removed to Terni. The accounts of both these … Continue reading “Valentine’s Day and the Commodification of Love or the Economic Impacts of Courtship”
All systems go! The UK Evaluation Society – Midlands Regional Network has now finally launched!
On the 7th December 2017, a launch event was held for the UK Evaluation Society – Midlands Regional Network. The event, held at the University of Birmingham, provided an opportunity for the steering group to put faces to names and explore what type of network members would like. Around twenty members of the network were able … Continue reading “All systems go! The UK Evaluation Society – Midlands Regional Network has now finally launched!”