Professor Matthias Kiese discusses the structural transformation of the Ruhr in Germany, a region attempting to leave behind its industrial past and move towards a knowledge-based economy. A broader analysis looking at the progress the Ruhr region has made towards levelling up over the last five decades can be found in the Industrial Strategy Council’s … Continue reading “Levelling Up in the Knowledge Economy: Can the Ruhr Shake off its Rust?”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th March 2021
This week, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that productivity grew at the fastest rate on record in the middle of 2020 when compared with the quarter before, but this fell away again in the last three months of the year. This was mainly because the least productive industries were those hardest hit by … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 26th March 2021”
Event: Harnessing the Potential of Createch in the West Midlands – 22nd April 2021, 13:00 – 14:20
Creative industries can be a catalyst of innovation across all sectors, enabling transformative new products and services which can drive regional economic growth, wellbeing and quality of life. In particular, the integration of technology and creative industries (‘Createch’) can satisfy consumer demands and solve societal challenges. Perhaps harnessing virtual production, VR or AR and theatre … Continue reading “Event: Harnessing the Potential of Createch in the West Midlands – 22nd April 2021, 13:00 – 14:20”
COVID-19 Business Support Grants in England: Analysing and Evaluating Successes of Government Policy
Hannes Read looks at the intentions and outcomes of the Small Business, Retail Hospitality & Leisure, and Discretionary Grant Funds in England from March 2020 to September 2020. The UK government response to support businesses in England following the coronavirus pandemic included the £11.7bn Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF), Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund … Continue reading “COVID-19 Business Support Grants in England: Analysing and Evaluating Successes of Government Policy”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th March 2021
This week it good to highlight the vaccine rollout continues at pace. The Midlands has successfully vaccinated 3,358,909 people with the first dose of the vaccine and 95,203 of these individuals have received the second dose. The Midlands has successfully continued to provide the most doses of the first jab and has remained the 3rd … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 19th March 2021”
Treasury Green Book Roadshow – Presentations and Video From the Event
On the 9th of March 2021, WM REDI and the West Midlands Combined Authority hosted the Treasury Green Book Roadshow. The roadshow was the first step to developing a network of empowered, knowledgeable people to improve business case development in the region. Evidencing, exploring and choosing the right options to fix an issue, aiming for … Continue reading “Treasury Green Book Roadshow – Presentations and Video From the Event”
The West Midlands Datastore: Request for Partners
The WMCA today issued a Request for Proposals (Access tender documents here) to help us develop a West Midlands Datastore. This was a key element of our Digital Roadmap and builds on the work of our Office for Data Analytics and Transport for the West Midlands Data Insights team. In this blog, Adam Hawksbee and Rebecca … Continue reading “The West Midlands Datastore: Request for Partners”
Unusual Suspects: The Role of Municipalities in Catalysing Innovation
On the 10th of March, City-REDI held its second external seminar series of 2021 featuring Professor Kevin Morgan from the University of Cardiff. The seminar “Unusual Suspects: The Role of Municipalities in Catalysing Innovation” focuses on research Professor Morgan is undertaking with colleagues from the Centre for Innovation Policy Research at Cardiff University. Abstract: This … Continue reading “Unusual Suspects: The Role of Municipalities in Catalysing Innovation”
Accelerator Programmes and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr Juliane Schwarz presents the findings from a study examining the effects of COVID-19 and nationwide lockdowns on an accelerator programme based in London, and how the move to online provision has impacted their work. Accelerators are start-up programmes that bring entrepreneurs together, face-to-face, for intensive interaction with experts and other entrepreneurs. As cities in … Continue reading “Accelerator Programmes and the COVID-19 Pandemic”
West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 12th March 2021
On Monday it was International Women’s day and it has been found that a year on from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, women have suffered the impacts more than their male counterparts. The Women’s Budget group released their ‘Women and employment during Covid-19 report’. The report found that: Women are the majority of employees … Continue reading “West Midlands Weekly Economic Impact Monitor – 12th March 2021”