Midlands Engine Observatory Academic Insights: Challenges and Opportunities for the Midlands Regional Economy

In partnership with the Midlands Engine, City-REDI / WMREDI staff have compiled several think pieces on key emerging trends on regional economic data points. View our Midlands Engine Observatory project page Flexible Working Patterns Firstly, Dr Abigail Taylor looks at flexible working patterns. Greater demand for flexible and hybrid working practices has emerged following the … Continue reading “Midlands Engine Observatory Academic Insights: Challenges and Opportunities for the Midlands Regional Economy”

The ‘2020 Shock’ on the Midlands Automotive Sector

Matt Lyons and Raquel Ortega-Argiles provide an analysis of the economic impact of Brexit and Covid-19 on the automotive sector in the Midlands during 2020. View our Midlands Engine Observatory project page The automotive industry remains an integral part of the national economy. The automotive industry is one of the UK’s major employers, supporting over … Continue reading “The ‘2020 Shock’ on the Midlands Automotive Sector”

City-REDI / WM REDI Round Up – July 2020

In the Media A policy brief from Professor Simon Collinson and Dr Amir Qamar called “The West Midlands’ Automotive Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Survival of the Fittest?” featured in several articles in July: Union demands support for region’s workers as ‘8,000 jobs lost in a week’, The Business Desk.Com Unite backing summit to … Continue reading “City-REDI / WM REDI Round Up – July 2020”

Policy Briefing: The West Midlands’ Automotive Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Survival of the Fittest?

In this Policy Briefing, Dr Amir Qamar and Professor Simon Collinson explore the financial position of the 50 largest (in terms of revenue) automotive firms in the West Midlands and examine how resilient they are to the economic shock caused by COVID-19.  Research by Oxford Economics identifies Birmingham to be hit exceptionally hard by the … Continue reading “Policy Briefing: The West Midlands’ Automotive Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Survival of the Fittest?”

Adapting, Innovating and Preparing for the Near Future: Brexit

This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2019 is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, with contributions from the West Midlands Growth Company. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second … Continue reading “Adapting, Innovating and Preparing for the Near Future: Brexit”

The End of the British Automotive Industry as We Know It: The Closure of the Ford Bridgend Factory and the Shift Towards the Electric Revolution

Last week, Ford announced the closure of its Bridgend engine plant with the loss of 1,700 jobs. For some, this was a surprise. Perhaps, the only surprise is that policy-makers and politicians have not been working to overcome the impacts of this closure for the last 12 months. This closure was predictable and it is … Continue reading “The End of the British Automotive Industry as We Know It: The Closure of the Ford Bridgend Factory and the Shift Towards the Electric Revolution”