Achieving the scale of ambition… Today was the launch of the West Midlands Combined Authority Skills and Productivity Commission call for evidence. The WMCA Productivity Leadership Group, led by Dr Andy Palmer and bringing together business leaders from across the LEPs, will ensure that WMCA plans to drive productivity are designed by and for local … Continue reading “WMCA Productivity and Skills Commission Launch – Call for Evidence”
Metro Mayors – Next Steps for Devolution in England
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) hosted their event ‘Metro Mayors: next steps for devolution in England’ last week in the run up to the Mayoral elections which will take place in several major city-regions next month on the 4th May. City-REDI’s Charlotte Hoole was … Continue reading “Metro Mayors – Next Steps for Devolution in England”
Developing Citizen-Centric Urban Services: End-user Innovation in Birmingham
Citizens have direct experience of the ‘problem spaces’ within urban systems and are more likely to be motivated to change existing services than incumbent providers (Noveck, 2016; Borgers et al., 2010). Consequently, it has proven valuable for the public sector to co-create with citizens (users or consumers), through capturing their ideas and integrating users’ knowledge … Continue reading “Developing Citizen-Centric Urban Services: End-user Innovation in Birmingham”
Manufacturers in the UK – Taking Their Eye off the Ball
Here, City-REDI’s Amir Qamar discusses the fate of British manufacturing after Brexit. The fate of the British manufacturing industry is currently unclear, with many organisations concerned about the effects that Brexit may have on their business; however, the potential impact will become much clearer once the government negotiates with the EU and concrete trade deals … Continue reading “Manufacturers in the UK – Taking Their Eye off the Ball”
Meet Stuart Mitchell, our new Centre Manager at City-REDI
I’ve spent the last 10 years working at Linking London, a partnership organisation of Colleges and Higher Education Institutions in London working in collaboration to maximise its contribution to targeted widening participation, student engagement and success, social mobility and in pursuit of improvements in social justice through education. I joined Linking London as the Development Fund … Continue reading “Meet Stuart Mitchell, our new Centre Manager at City-REDI”
Employed worklessness and other oxymora
Tasos Kitsos comments on the latest ONS release of employment on zero-hours contract. On March 15 2017, ONS released its latest estimate (Oct to Dec 2016) of people employed on contracts that do not guarantee a minimum amount of hours. Ready? Here it is… 905,000 (or 2.8% of those employed). The figure itself may not … Continue reading “Employed worklessness and other oxymora”
What hope for modern democracy after Brexit?
The low turnout at last month’s by-elections tells us a lot about the state of modern democracy. With a turnout of just 38% in Stoke-on-Trent and 51% in Copeland, does this signify a time for change in the system of democracy as we currently know it? The idea that the UK is facing a crisis … Continue reading “What hope for modern democracy after Brexit?”
The problem with women; versus the solution of women
Reflections from Rebecca Riley on the world of work for International Women’s day 2017. As a woman, I find the attitude that women are a problem to be solved frustrating as it sees half of the population as an issue to be dealt with, a generalisation which of course isn’t true. As someone interested in … Continue reading “The problem with women; versus the solution of women”
Budgeting on the Margins? Skills, Business Rates and the Budget
Here, City-REDI’s Professor John Bryson shares his Spring Budget predictions ahead of tomorrow’s announcement. “…There is a major policy tension that needs to be reconciled. On the one hand, there is a strategy to devolve business rates as part of the ‘devolution revolution’. On the other hand, the rise of e-commerce has undermined the basis of much … Continue reading “Budgeting on the Margins? Skills, Business Rates and the Budget”
DevoConnect/City-REDI mayoral hustings: Innovation and Intervention – Igniting the Midlands Engine
Last night @CityREDI hosted the latest in a series of @DevoConnect mayoral hustings at the University of Birmingham’s Business School, chaired by our very own Director, Professor Simon Collinson. A well-attended, stimulating event with some excellent questions it presents an opportune point to reflect on the mayoral process so far and how candidates are shaping … Continue reading “DevoConnect/City-REDI mayoral hustings: Innovation and Intervention – Igniting the Midlands Engine”