REDI-Updates: Impact of Rising Prices on Business Operations

The latest edition of REDI-Updates is out now – providing expert data insights and clear policy guidance. In this edition, the WMREDI team investigates what factors are contributing to the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on households, businesses, public services and the third sector. We also look at how the crisis in … Continue reading “REDI-Updates: Impact of Rising Prices on Business Operations”

Regional Clusters: Place Branding for the Co-Location of Firms

Professor Simon Collison discusses how city-regions need to build a straightforward narrative that captures why people and businesses would want to visit, live, work, invest and commit to that particular place. Place branding and local leadership is often focused on promoting inward investment around clusters of economic activity, which can contribute to regional economic growth … Continue reading “Regional Clusters: Place Branding for the Co-Location of Firms”

University R&D and Innovation Are Essential to Government Ambitions for Levelling Up

Professor Simon Collinson highlights the significance of University R&D to regional economics in the UK and why this is so important for levelling up.  This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Brief.  The benefits of economic growth and wealth creation are usually distributed unevenly. Dealing with the increase in socio-economic and spatial inequality requires … Continue reading “University R&D and Innovation Are Essential to Government Ambitions for Levelling Up”

Small Business Leaders Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic – Foundations for Recovery?

Professor Mark Hart discusses the impact of Covid-19, financial support from the Government and the adoption of digital technology on SMEs. 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 … Continue reading “Small Business Leaders Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic – Foundations for Recovery?”

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”

Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Area – a Profile

Dr Abigail Taylor provides an economic snapshot of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP area following the five foundations of the Industrial Strategy: Ideas, People, Infrastructure, Business Environment and Place. As part of the Midlands Engine Economic Observatory work, WM REDI and the Black Country Consortium Economic Intelligence Unit developed Local Economic Partnership (LEP) level profiles. We … Continue reading “Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Area – a Profile”

Birmingham on the World Stage: The Attractiveness of the City Before and After the Pandemic

Rebecca Riley on what Birmingham needs to do to remain an attractive place to live and visit, ensuring the centre and surrounding areas remain vibrant and thriving. This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2020 is produced by City-REDI / WM … Continue reading “Birmingham on the World Stage: The Attractiveness of the City Before and After the Pandemic”

From Great R&D to Better Outcomes for the UK

This is part one of a two-part blog by Professor Simon Collinson on R&D, innovation and regional growth, following an academic forum hosted by WM-REDI and UKRI that discussed the evidence that should inform the government’s place R&D strategy. It was first published on the UKRI website. A successful national R&D system is, by definition … Continue reading “From Great R&D to Better Outcomes for the UK”

The Future of Towns and Cities After Coronavirus

Welcome to REDI-Updates. REDI-Updates is a bi-annual publication which will get behind the data and translate it into understandable terms. In this edition, WM REDI staff and guest contributors will discuss some of the key topics when trying to understand the long-term economic impacts of the pandemic. In this article, Rebecca Riley looks at the economic, … Continue reading “The Future of Towns and Cities After Coronavirus”

Commercialisation of University Research as a Pathway to Regional 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, Dr Chloe Billing … Continue reading “Commercialisation of University Research as a Pathway to Regional Growth”