Accelerating Place – Based Growth through Innovation: Perspectives from the Conservative Party Conference

On 2nd October, City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham and Policy @ Manchester co-hosted a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference on how to accelerate placed-based growth and innovation. Steve Barwick and Fumi Kitagawa reflect on the lessons learnt at the event held in Manchester. The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief … Continue reading “Accelerating Place – Based Growth through Innovation: Perspectives from the Conservative Party Conference”

Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands

Anne Green, David Waite and Richard Crisp discusses their new paper which compares the five leading agendas that have been positioned as alternative and progressive policy responses to urban economic change. Decades of traditional growth-oriented economic policies have failed to stem widening social inequalities and rising environmental challenges. This has triggered growing interest amongst policymakers … Continue reading “Alternative Approaches to Local Economic Development: Perspectives from the West Midlands”

The Devil and the Detail: The Two Things Hiding Behind the UK Levelling Up Fund

Whilst the Levelling Up Fund provides much-needed support for local regions, Hannes Read discusses two issues with the programme. The patchwork delivery of funding and a lack of focus on how the funds are spent. The continued patchwork approach to regional economic development is the devil behind the Levelling Up Fund. Despite the roots of … Continue reading “The Devil and the Detail: The Two Things Hiding Behind the UK Levelling Up Fund”

Providing the Right Support for the Right Firms in the Right Places

With less funding available in the future, Professor Simon Collinson discusses the need for national and local agencies to provide targeted support to the right kind of businesses to help achieve better regional growth. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced … Continue reading “Providing the Right Support for the Right Firms in the Right Places”

Financial Support for Businesses in the West Midlands During Covid-19

George Bramley discusses the various national and regional financial support schemes that were set up to support businesses in the West Midlands 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 and the Greater Birmingham … Continue reading “Financial Support for Businesses in the West Midlands During Covid-19”

R&D Investment in Our City-Region: Local Potential for Future Inclusive Growth

Professor Simon Collinson discusses a recent study by City-REDI and the West Midland Combined Authority mapping the inflows of various kinds of public R&D investment into the region.  R&D and the West Midlands The West Midlands attracts a significant amount of private sector R&D investment, about £398 per capita according to one study (Jones and … Continue reading “R&D Investment in Our City-Region: Local Potential for Future Inclusive Growth”

The Contribution of Universities to Inclusive Regional Growth

On the 18th – 20th of May, the Civic Universities Network will be holding its inaugural annual conference. Professor Simon Collinson will be hosting a conference panel session at the event looking at the contribution of universities to inclusive growth. In this blog, Professor Collinson outlines some of the challenges of evaluating and enhancing this … Continue reading “The Contribution of Universities to Inclusive Regional Growth”

REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK. In this article, Ben Brittain … Continue reading “REDI Updates Interview: Andy Street the West Midlands Mayor on Inclusive Growth”

Realising the Potential of Inclusive Growth – Lessons From USE-IT

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK.  In this article, Dr Sara Hassan … Continue reading “Realising the Potential of Inclusive Growth – Lessons From USE-IT”

When It Comes to Inclusive Growth, Place Definitely Matters. And Here’s Why

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss various topics, with this first publication focusing on how inclusive growth can be a tool to tackle regional imbalances across the UK.  In this article, Dr Abigail … Continue reading “When It Comes to Inclusive Growth, Place Definitely Matters. And Here’s Why”