West Midlands Impact Monitor – 14th October 2022

An interesting fact: marmalade has seen a rapid rise in sales surging by 18%, as the nation paid its respects to the Queen. Sales of supermarket own brands continue to surge in an effort to battle the cost-of living crisis. Sales of wonky fruit and vegetables have soared 38% and Lidl is the fastest growing … Continue reading “West Midlands Impact Monitor – 14th October 2022”

Brexit and the West Midlands: What Has Happened in the Last Five Years?

On 29th March 2017, article 50 was triggered and the UK began the process of leaving the EU. To mark the day, Hannes Read looks at the impact Brexit has had on the West Midlands.  The 29th March 2022 marks five years to the day since Article 50 was formally triggered; beginning the process for … Continue reading “Brexit and the West Midlands: What Has Happened in the Last Five Years?”

Brexit and COVID-19 in the Midlands

Will Rossiter, Associate Professor of Regional Policy & Development at Nottingham Trent University, reflects on the impact of Brexit and the pandemic in the Midlands over the last two years. Reflecting on Brexit and the pandemic A year-on from the end of the transition period covering the UK’s exit from the EU and roughly two … Continue reading “Brexit and COVID-19 in the Midlands”

The Impact of Brexit and COVID–19 on International Trade In Our Region

Mandy Haque looks at how Brexit and Covid-19 have impacted international trade in the West Midlands and the challenges that lay ahead.  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. … Continue reading “The Impact of Brexit and COVID–19 on International Trade In Our Region”

Economic Recovery and Resilience in Birmingham

Raj Kandola discusses the impact of Covid-19 on the economy of Birmingham, the resilience and collective resolve shown by local businesses to survive the pandemic, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the city to continue its economic recovery.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. … Continue reading “Economic Recovery and Resilience in Birmingham”

Brexit Deal: What Is New for the Regions?

After eight months of negotiations, the UK and EU agreed on a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles examines what the Brexit deal means for the UK and its regions.    This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Brief site.  On 24 December 2020, after eight months of negotiations, the UK and … Continue reading “Brexit Deal: What Is New for the Regions?”

Brexit and Losses of UK Regional Competitiveness: What Does this Mean for the West Midlands, ‘Levelling Up’ and a UK-EU Trade Deal?

A UK in a Changing Europe research team led by Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés from City-REDI, University of Birmingham, and also involving the University of Sheffield, University of Groningen, Erasmus University and Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency, has recently published new research which extends our understanding of the likely consequences of Brexit for UK and EU regions. … Continue reading “Brexit and Losses of UK Regional Competitiveness: What Does this Mean for the West Midlands, ‘Levelling Up’ and a UK-EU Trade Deal?”

International Trade Is the Key to Economic Recovery in the West Midlands

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, Matthew Lowe, from the Black Country … Continue reading “International Trade Is the Key to Economic Recovery in the West Midlands”

Brexit and UK Manufacturing

Manufacturing is still important The UK is largely seen as a ‘service-based’ economy, which means that services – such as financial, legal, research & development (R&D), real estate and so on – account for the bulk of economic output and employment. Manufacturing, on the other hand, only formally accounts for around 10% of the economy … Continue reading “Brexit and UK Manufacturing”

How Is Brexit Going to Be Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak?

Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés looks into the effects COVID-19 will have on Brexit negotiations and the consequences for local regions as well as the United Kingdom as a whole. Since the UK officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020 much has changed. Brexit has gone out of the political focus as both the UK and … Continue reading “How Is Brexit Going to Be Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak?”