The latest Purchasing Managers Index has left confidence falling to a 19-month low, but some firms remained upbeat due to new product launches, marketing efforts and expansion plans to support output over the course of the coming year. Business optimism was generally restricted due to acute inflationary pressures, issues with transportation, a challenging economic climate, … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 24th June 2022”
Over 50s in the Labour Market
Professor Anne Green discusses the fall in labour market participation for the over-50s in the UK and the West Midlands, the barriers they face accessing learning and employment and how we can help them back into the workforce. Introduction With the number of vacancies nationally outstripping the numbers of unemployed people and many employers facing … Continue reading “Over 50s in the Labour Market”
Less is More? Will the Levelling Up White Paper Rebalance the Regional Distribution of R&D Spending?
Welcome to REDI-Updates – providing expert data insights and clear policy guidance. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring this Levelling Up. In this blog, Carolin Ioramashvili, Kelvin Humphreys and Simon Collinson examine the promise to boost Government … Continue reading “Less is More? Will the Levelling Up White Paper Rebalance the Regional Distribution of R&D Spending?”
Regional Systems of Innovation – How Does the West Midlands Compare With its European Counterparts?
Dr Carolin Ioramashvili and Professor Simon Collinson compare levels of innovation in regions around Europe with the West Midlands to show policymakers where they can focus investment and interventions. This is part of a series of blogs looking at Innovation in the West Midlands. Find out more about our work on regional innovation systems. Innovation … Continue reading “Regional Systems of Innovation – How Does the West Midlands Compare With its European Counterparts?”
How Does the Innovation Performance of the West Midlands Rank on the National and International Stage?
Kelvin Humphreys and colleagues use World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) annual Global Innovation Index to assess how innovative the West Midlands is. This is part of a series of blogs looking at Innovation in the West Midlands. Find out more about our work on regional innovation systems. Summary This analysis compares the innovation performance of … Continue reading “How Does the Innovation Performance of the West Midlands Rank on the National and International Stage?”
Place-Based Employment Support Conference
On Thursday 16th June, 11:00-15:15, the Heseltine Institute at the University of Liverpool and City-REDI/ WMREDI at the University of Birmingham are co-hosting an event in Liverpool on the theme of Employment Support and Future Skills: Benefits of a Place-Based Approach. In the context of the government’s levelling up agenda and the opportunities and challenges … Continue reading “Place-Based Employment Support Conference”
Mobilising the Power of Universities in Levelling-Up: A new Universities and Regions Policy Forum
Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates aims to get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WMREDI staff look at the government’s flagship policy – Levelling Up. We look at the challenge of implementing, understanding and measuring levelling up. In this blog, Professor John Goddard, with Rebecca Riley, Professor Anne Green, Professor … Continue reading “Mobilising the Power of Universities in Levelling-Up: A new Universities and Regions Policy Forum”
New Opportunities for Low Carbon Growth
Professor Martin Freer discusses what areas of the low-carbon sector the West Midlands is optimally placed to develop in the region. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. … Continue reading “New Opportunities for Low Carbon Growth”
West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 10th June 2022
This fortnight the key data release is the long awaited GVA for 2020, which is the first one to reflect the impact of Covid-19. The region has kept its economy above the £100bn mark but dropped to £102bn, a decrease of 4.5% (generally across all GVA indicators the region performs poorly against the UK). This … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 10th June 2022”
UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Perspectives on Allocations in the Midlands
Writing for the Midlands Engine Observatory, Charlie Hopkirk examines whether the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will provide a sufficient replacement for the European Structural Fund in the Midlands. Launched in April, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a Government-allocated fund which is intended to reduce inequalities between communities. UKSPF is being allocated nationally as … Continue reading “UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Perspectives on Allocations in the Midlands”