Budget Breakdown 2021 and the Key Points for the West Midlands

Mike Lewis, Senior Policy Officer at the West Midlands Combined Authority provides a breakdown of HMG’s Budget announcement 2021 and highlights some of the key points of interest to the West Midlands.  Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented HMG’s Budget 2021 to the House of Commons on 3 March 2021. The Chancellor outlined measures … Continue reading “Budget Breakdown 2021 and the Key Points for the West Midlands”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th February 2021

This week we continue to see the success of vaccine rollout. The Midlands has successfully provided the most 1st and 2nd doses of the vaccines out of any region in England, which is particularly important given the region has the highest reported hospital admissions. The region has recently published its Digital roadmap – research carried … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th February 2021”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 12th February 2021

This week the impacts of EU exit and transition continue to unfold in the news, and the UK and regional PMI has gone back into contraction. As predicted by many forecasters, the ongoing lockdown continues to have a negative impact on the economy, but there are some good news stories in the region with £20 … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 12th February 2021”

Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2020

This year’s Birmingham Economic Review – a collaboration between Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and City-REDI / WM REDI, University of Birmingham launched yesterday at a Zoom event with over 180 attendees. [Watch the event on YouTube] The Birmingham Economic Review is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second city and a high-quality resource … Continue reading “Launch of the Birmingham Economic Review 2020”

Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery: How Can Universities Do Even More to Support Regions in Crisis?

On the 30th September, City-REDI / WM REDI and the Civic University Network held an event called “Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery“. The event began with a discussion between Lord Robert Kerslake (Chair of the Civic University Commission) Lord David Willetts (President – Resolution Foundation) and Sarah Davidson (CEO – Carnegie UK Trust). … Continue reading “Civic Universities and Inclusive Local Economic Recovery: How Can Universities Do Even More to Support Regions in Crisis?”

REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Ben Brittain … Continue reading “REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth”

West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th June 2020

WM REDI has been tasked with providing an up to date monitor of the current COVID-19 economic impacts, on a weekly basis. These reports will help regional partners to shape responses and interventions to boost the region’s resilience so that it can thrive going forward. Each week the focus of the report is based on … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th June 2020”

Knowledge Translation and People-led Approaches to Achieving Urban Sustainable Development Goals: Reflections from the African Perspective 12+ Conference, Delft

Global air pollution is a problem attributed to urbanisation and provides a good reference point for understanding and addressing the gap between scientific knowledge and policy practice in Africa. African development potentials and challenges have been identified and ways forward suggested in many publications and conferences. Yet, the reality of African development challenges is a … Continue reading “Knowledge Translation and People-led Approaches to Achieving Urban Sustainable Development Goals: Reflections from the African Perspective 12+ Conference, Delft”

Meet Dr Magda Cepeda Zorrilla, Research Fellow at City-REDI

I joined City-REDI, University of Birmingham as Research Fellow in February 2019. I studied my a BSc (Hons) in International Relations (2007-2011) in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. My dissertation was aimed to explore the International experience of the use of the bicycle to reduce CO2 emissions and how developing countries could access to … Continue reading “Meet Dr Magda Cepeda Zorrilla, Research Fellow at City-REDI”

Singapore ‘smoking ban’ sounds radical, but it’s an odd way to reduce air pollution

On January 1 2019, Singapore will introduce a “no smoking zone” along a three kilometre stretch of Orchard Road – one of the city’s busiest shopping districts. It sounds controversial – restricting people’s right to smoke in public spaces, as a way of tackling air pollution and improving public health. But smoking is not actually … Continue reading “Singapore ‘smoking ban’ sounds radical, but it’s an odd way to reduce air pollution”