West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor- 29 April 2022

With the devastation caused by war in Ukraine continuing, Russia has halted gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria in what has been termed a strategy of ‘energy blackmail’. Many European countries are working to reduce dependence on gas from Russia. Awareness of supply pressures on certain goods, notably cooking oil, is becoming more apparent with … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor- 29 April 2022”

Talent, Diversity and Inclusivity

Dr Abigail Taylor and Professor Anne Green delve into how talent, diversity, and inclusion issues have been brought to the fore during the Pandemic. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham’s and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of … Continue reading “Talent, Diversity and Inclusivity”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 14 April 2022

COVID-19 cases have been rising. In England, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 remained high in the week ending 2 April 2022; ONS estimate that 4,141,600 people in England had COVID-19 equating to 7.60% of the population, which is about 1 in 13 people, but deaths still remain low. This level of illness … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 14 April 2022”

Entrepreneurial Behaviour and the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Collapse in Confidence or a Positive Response to Uncertainty?

Mark Hart uses data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Annual Population Surveys to examine the impact COVID-19 has had on entrepreneurship in the UK.  This blog highlights the work of a new project “Lifting the Lid on Enterprise Diversity & Growth in the West Midlands“, which will collect and analyse panel data on business … Continue reading “Entrepreneurial Behaviour and the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Collapse in Confidence or a Positive Response to Uncertainty?”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 1 April 2022

It is now two years since the beginning of the pandemic, and the Global Economy is being rocked by another severe shock. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is foremost a human tragedy and a reminder of the terrible costs of war and the immense and immeasurable consequences for those who are caught up in them. … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 1 April 2022”

What Does the Future Business District Look Like?

Covid-19 ushered in a dramatic change in working practices. Professor Anne Green looks at three major impacts this will have for cities like Birmingham.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers … Continue reading “What Does the Future Business District Look Like?”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 18 March 2022

In the last fortnight we have seen considerable world turmoil, war in Eastern Europe, sanctions on Russia, further weakening of supply chains and escalating prices which are putting considerable stress on people and businesses. Whilst Covid-19 is still also in our midst, upheaval and migration could create greater risks of infection growth. However, it is … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 18 March 2022”

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”

West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 4 March 2022

This week, the news has been dominated by developments in Ukraine, and this has affected the data and research published on general economic conditions. Many forecasters and now reviewing their forecasts given the unfolding situation across Europe, and its wider impacts on the global economy. Once again this has flagged how interrelated countries are and … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 4 March 2022”

The Future Business District

Kevin Johnson from Urban Communications discusses the future business district study and how this research can benefit city centres.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an … Continue reading “The Future Business District”