In a new series of blogs following a Senior Leaders roundtable, we hear from Hilary Smyth-Allen, CEO of SuperTech, the West Midlands’ cluster body for financial and professional services technology and partner of City-REDI, co-producing the evidence base for the region’s Next Generation Services cluster sector. As AI reshapes entry-level work in professional and financial … Continue reading “The Pipeline Paradox”
Tag: Skills
How Regional Models can Inform Policy Decisions- Notes from the Regional Economic Modelling Group Meeting
On 3 September, we brought together researchers from Universities of Birmingham, Curtin, Strathclyde and the OECD at the University of Birmingham for a meeting of the Regional Economic Modelling Group. Regional economics remains highly relevant to policy, and regional models have an important role in informing evidence-based policy decisions. The workshop was an opportunity to … Continue reading “How Regional Models can Inform Policy Decisions- Notes from the Regional Economic Modelling Group Meeting”
The London Problem Has Morphed
In a new series of blogs following a Senior Leaders roundtable, we hear from Hilary Smyth-Allen, CEO of SuperTech, the West Midlands’ cluster body for financial and professional services technology and partner of City-REDI, co-producing the evidence base for the region’s Next Generation Services cluster sector. In 2019, we worried about talent leaving the West … Continue reading “The London Problem Has Morphed”
Taking the Long View of Greater Birmingham’s Labour Market
The Birmingham Economic Review is out now! This year’s report will provide a comprehensive analysis of the city’s economy amid the wider geopolitical landscape, and actionable measures that businesses and stakeholders from across the city-region can take to drive economic growth. Read the full Birmingham Economic Review 2025. Donald Houston explores Greater Birmingham’s long‑term labour … Continue reading “Taking the Long View of Greater Birmingham’s Labour Market”
The Birmingham Economic Review 2025
Dr Matthew Lyons summarises the annual Birmingham Economic Review 2025, in collaboration with the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the City Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. The report launched on Thursday 4th of December at The … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2025”
Policy Briefing: Understanding the UK’s Rise in Economic Inactivity Since 2020 Across Local Labour Markets
Donald Houston talks though key findings of the report and policy implications of a recent City-REDI paper. The University of Birmingham’s City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) has published a Research & Policy Briefing paper based on the main findings from a major project that I led funded by the Economic & Social Research Council. The … Continue reading “Policy Briefing: Understanding the UK’s Rise in Economic Inactivity Since 2020 Across Local Labour Markets”
Strengthening the UK’s R&D workforce: Insights from a DSIT–City-REDI research collaboration
This blog shares details from a recent research paper published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The study explores long-term trends, challenges, and future skills needs in the R&D workforce. Introduction A strong research and development (R&D) workforce is vital for the UK. Skilled R&D professionals play a crucial role in driving … Continue reading “Strengthening the UK’s R&D workforce: Insights from a DSIT–City-REDI research collaboration”
Project Spotlight: Digital Skills Demand and Shortages and Their Impact on the UK Regions
In a new series of blogs, we will be reviewing the current and historical work of City-REDI. In the latest blog, we look at Dr Hunajia Ma, Dr Matthew Lyons, Dr Konstantinos Kollydas and Professor Anne Green’s work on the shortage of digital skills in the UK. In an era of rapid technological transformation, digital … Continue reading “Project Spotlight: Digital Skills Demand and Shortages and Their Impact on the UK Regions”
Project Spotlight: Rethinking Local Labour Markets and Under employment in the UK
In a new series of blogs, we will review City-REDI’s current and historical work. In the next blog, we will examine a paper published by Professor Donald Houston and colleagues. This report illuminates the persistent challenges of underemployment and workforce planning in the UK’s local labour markets. The research delves into the factors contributing to … Continue reading “Project Spotlight: Rethinking Local Labour Markets and Under employment in the UK”
Expert Insight: Developing Skills for Innovation and Business Growth in the West Midlands
Anne Green, Professor of Regional Economic Development and Co-Director of City-REDI, University of Birmingham, is a commissioner for the Business Commission West Midlands. She has been supporting engagement in the region’s business community and the creation of the final ‘Roadmap for Business Growth’ report. In this blog, Anne reflects on her role in the commission … Continue reading “Expert Insight: Developing Skills for Innovation and Business Growth in the West Midlands”