In this policy briefing, Juliane Schwarz discusses the STEAMhouse, a Birmingham City University (BCU) asset, exploring its contribution to improving economic performance and social inequality in our region. Special thanks to Professor Joanna Birch, Director of Innovation, Enterprise and Employability at Birmingham City University, and STEAMhouse staff for their contributions. What are the benefits of … Continue reading “WMREDI Policy Briefing – STEM Assets in the West Midlands Innovation Landscape: STEAMhouse”
REDI-Updates: Cost-Of-Living Crisis – The Impact of the Crisis and the Supply-Side Failures Driving It
The latest edition of REDI-Updates is out now – providing expert data insights and clear policy guidance. In this edition, the WMREDI team investigates what factors are contributing to the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on households, businesses, public services and the third sector. We also look at how the crisis in … Continue reading “REDI-Updates: Cost-Of-Living Crisis – The Impact of the Crisis and the Supply-Side Failures Driving It”
Birmingham in Crisis: Understanding the Challenge of Local Authority Budget Cuts and the Effect on Good Financial Management
Rebecca Riley and Abigail Taylor discusses the recent financial crisis to hit Birmingham City Council, and how the root of the issues facing this council and others around the UK, are a decade in the making. This week it was announced that Birmingham City Council faces a spending freeze and greater scrutiny of its budget. An … Continue reading “Birmingham in Crisis: Understanding the Challenge of Local Authority Budget Cuts and the Effect on Good Financial Management”
The Future of Devolution, Accountability and Local Democracy
On 21st June, WMREDI held a hybrid seminar with Courtney Stephenson from Demos and David Hope from Coventry City Council discussing what we can learn from governance and institutional structures over the last ten years to support future economic growth. The last ten years have seen considerable change in tiers of local and regional governance … Continue reading “The Future of Devolution, Accountability and Local Democracy”
West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 7 July 2023
Business conditions continue to remain challenging, but estimates show some signs of improvement: (1) a smaller proportion of businesses report supply chain disruption, (2) more businesses report that they are able to get materials, goods, and services from within the UK, and (3) fewer businesses report price inflation of goods and services or energy prices … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 7 July 2023”
The UK Regional Economy and the Uneven Impacts of Brexit
Donald Houston and Iain Docherty highlight that insufficient attention has been paid to the regional implications of economic policy choices such as Brexit, which has hampered efforts to address place-based inequalities. This blog was originally posted on the UK in a Changing Europe website. For almost a century, the UK policy system has – with … Continue reading “The UK Regional Economy and the Uneven Impacts of Brexit”
What Could the £4 billion Expansion of Childcare Support mean for the West Midlands Economy?
In the 2023 Spring Statement the UK Government announced plans to expand free childcare to children between 9 months and 2 years old. Matt Lyons and Abi Taylor investigate what this could mean for the West Midlands. The UK Government announced a £4bn childcare expansion policy in England. Key objectives of the policy include removing … Continue reading “What Could the £4 billion Expansion of Childcare Support mean for the West Midlands Economy?”
City-REDI/WMREDI Round Up – June 2023
Media engagements City-REDI featured in WIREDGOV public sector alerting service “UKRI invests in policy innovation partnerships for local growth”. City-REDI featured in the West Wales Chronicle about the LPIP Hub. Rebecca Riley discusses levelling up in Scotland in Holyrood magazine. Simon Collinson and Charlotte Hoole wrote a commentary piece for the Academy of Social Sciences … Continue reading “City-REDI/WMREDI Round Up – June 2023”
Meet Darja Reuschke, City-REDI’s New Associate Professor of Regional Economic Development
Darja discusses her research interests including work, employment, cities and regions. I am interested in interdisciplinary perspectives on work, employment, cities and regions. New forms and locations of work and businesses are a central focus of my research. I have investigated how housing markets, regional and local economic conditions, households and gender influence self-employment and … Continue reading “Meet Darja Reuschke, City-REDI’s New Associate Professor of Regional Economic Development”
Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Place-Based Development: The Role of Creative Freelancers.
On 1st June 2023, City-REDI held a hybrid seminar with Nick Henry from Coventry University about Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Place-Based Development. For some decades the harnessing of culture and creativity has been cast as a local and regional development option – such as through regeneration, quarters, classes and clusters. In, around and beyond these … Continue reading “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Place-Based Development: The Role of Creative Freelancers.”