International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications

Summer intern Dimas Almaruf presents the first part of a two-part series of blogs on the economic impact of international students in the UK. Part I sets the scene by providing the number of students in the region. Introduction The United Kingdom has long been a favourite destination for international students to pursue their higher … Continue reading “International Students in the West Midlands: The Costs, Benefits, and Housing Implications”

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Exploring the Future Frontiers: Key Themes from the UK Space Conference 2023

Chloe Billing reflects on her time at this year’s UK Space Conference. I recently attended the 2023 UK Space Conference (a biennial event) held at the ICC in Belfast. Throughout the three-day conference, diverse sessions—from plenary talks to breakout sessions and short talks—provided comprehensive insights into the UK Space sectors’ strengths and opportunities for growth. … Continue reading “Exploring the Future Frontiers: Key Themes from the UK Space Conference 2023”

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Self-Employment in the West Midlands

Darja Reuschke looks at the impact the pandemic had on self-employment in Birmingham and the West Midlands. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of … Continue reading “Self-Employment in the West Midlands”

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The Potential Impact of Youth Social Prescribing in the West Midlands on Employment and the Economy: Final Report and Evaluation Framework

Joanne Mills and Rachel Hopley from the University of Wolverhampton have designed an evaluation framework to help identify the potential impact of youth social prescribing within the West Midlands on employment and the economy. They have written this blog to give an update on the Institute for Community Research and Development’s recent project with WMREDI … Continue reading “The Potential Impact of Youth Social Prescribing in the West Midlands on Employment and the Economy: Final Report and Evaluation Framework”

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A Stay of Execution: The Desperate Situation of the Hospitality Sector

1 in 18 licenced premises have been lost between June 2022 and June 2023. Anne-Marie Simpson, Owner of Simpsons Gin Bar, discusses her experiences as a business owner in tough economic times.  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and … Continue reading “A Stay of Execution: The Desperate Situation of the Hospitality Sector”

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Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2

Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla and Donald Houston discuss how transport priorities have changed following HS2. They argue that buses are good value for taxpayers, important to those who do not have any other form of transport and can foster inclusive economic growth. In England, public support for bus operators and users totalled £3.1 billion in 2021-22 – … Continue reading “Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2”

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The Autumn Statement 2023: The Impacts

Alice Pugh looks at the impact of the Autumn Budget on households, businesses and public services. View Alice’s previous blog on this topic – Key Announcements Autumn Statement 2023 Household Impact  The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that the changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for employees and the self-employed, will only give … Continue reading “The Autumn Statement 2023: The Impacts”

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