October’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. The headlines for this month’s monitor are: The WMCA have signed a contract to order 21 new battery-operated trams to operate on the new Edgbaston line making the region. They will … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: October 2019”
What is Transport Resilience?
Welcome to part three in our new series “What is…?” where we explain the language, terms and ideas used in our day-to-day work. Other blogs from the series include: What is GVA? What is Smart Specialisation? What are Industrial Clusters and Economies of Agglomeration? Definition and description Transport is necessary at the national and international … Continue reading “What is Transport Resilience?”
Employers Wary of Hiring Refugees and Migrants to Help Fill Shortages Need Help Understanding the Law
A recent survey I conducted of employers in Coventry in the West Midlands found that while 80% of the businesses we interviewed had hard-to-fill job vacancies, less than 5% had employed a refugee and nearly one-third had never even considered hiring one. Yet, for most refugees, integration into their new home is heavily dependent on … Continue reading “Employers Wary of Hiring Refugees and Migrants to Help Fill Shortages Need Help Understanding the Law”
Is the Government Going to ‘Make Buses Great Again’?
At the Conservative Party Conference, the Government seemed adamant to talk about buses. But, for what reason would the Government want to make buses a key transport-policy subject? At the conference, the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, proclaimed; “Buses haven’t been given the attention they deserve from politicians. But they are still the backbone of our public transport … Continue reading “Is the Government Going to ‘Make Buses Great Again’?”
How Neoliberal Governance Can Promote Responsible Business and Inclusive Growth
Neoliberal policies have become a major socio-economic development instrument across the world in recent times. The implementation of neoliberal policies in the Nigerian cement industry in the late 1990s transformed the sector not just so it was viable, but also a major front runner in cement production in Africa. The changing roles and responsibilities of … Continue reading “How Neoliberal Governance Can Promote Responsible Business and Inclusive Growth”
Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Previous blogs in this devolution series have considered the political and economic benefits of devolving decision-making power and looked at the situation in England, with the new combined authorities and the office of the Mayor of London. The countries of the Celtic fringe of the UK – namely Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – also … Continue reading “Devolution in the UK: A Look at Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”
West Midlands Economic Monitor: September 2019
September’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month posted mixed performance data for the region, with current figures showing a PMI of 47.5, whilst ONS data showed the West Midlands grew faster than any other region in … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: September 2019”
What is the Extent of Devolution in England?
Across the UK there is a range of devolution models in operation. This blog will consider the form that devolution takes among the new combined authorities in England and the Greater London Authority in the capital. It is part of a series of blog looking at devolution and follows on from a previous blog asking … Continue reading “What is the Extent of Devolution in England?”
Meet Josh Swan, Policy and Data Analyst at City-REDI
Since joining the City-REDI Team in July 2019 I have explored many interesting concepts in economics, entrepreneurship and business. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2015 with a degree in BA Political Economy where I looked into the main characteristics of the National and Global Economy. In particular, I enjoyed looking at how … Continue reading “Meet Josh Swan, Policy and Data Analyst at City-REDI”
What Is the Point of Devolution?
It is not uncommon to hear that the UK is the most centralised country in the developed world. London utterly dominates the rest of the country to an extent that is quite remarkable. From politics to business, media to culture, the wealth and power of the UK is almost entirely within London’s orbit. Indeed, if … Continue reading “What Is the Point of Devolution?”