The National Minimum Wage: An International, National and Regional Perspective

Maryna Ramcharan and Abigail Taylor examine the National Minimum Wage in terms of how it compares to minimum wage rates internationally, its national impact and its implications for the West Midlands. The 1st of April 2022 marks the 23rd year since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the UK by Tony Blair’s … Continue reading “The National Minimum Wage: An International, National and Regional Perspective”

Policy Briefing – STEM Assets in the West Midlands: The Warwick Manufacturing Group

In this policy briefing, Robert Lynam, Dr Chloe Billing and Professor Simon Collinson outline the publicly available information about Warwick Manufacturing Group’s (WMG) capabilities and impact, as well as identifying any gaps. This basic scoping work was conducted via internet searches and has a particular focus on what is known about WMG’s governance structure, size, … Continue reading “Policy Briefing – STEM Assets in the West Midlands: The Warwick Manufacturing Group”

Smart Specialisation and the Diversification of Related Sectors: The Context of Developing a West Midlands Space Cluster

Dr Chloe Billing and Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés discuss smart specialisation and regional diversification processes, and how the West Midlands can use its unique strengths to secure future regional diversification pathways into the space sector. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced … Continue reading “Smart Specialisation and the Diversification of Related Sectors: The Context of Developing a West Midlands Space Cluster”

Rethinking Public Procurement for Post-COVID Recovery

Malcolm Harbour CBE from Connected Places Catapult examines how the public sector can use procurement to drive innovation in Birmingham and the West Midlands. 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 “Rethinking Public Procurement for Post-COVID Recovery”

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 Effect of Furlough and Mortgage Holidays on Household Finances in the West Midlands During the Covid-19 Crisis

Dr Christoph Görtz and Professor Danny McGowen look at the impact of financial support schemes in helping households during Covid-19. 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 … Continue reading “The Effect of Furlough and Mortgage Holidays on Household Finances in the West Midlands During the Covid-19 Crisis”

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”

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”

Income Inequality, Policies and Inclusive Growth

Dr Maryna Ramcharan discusses her new report examining income inequality in the UK at a regional level with a particular focus on the West Midlands.  Visit the project page and view the report  – Income Inequality, Policies and Inclusive Growth  The UK has a very high level of income inequality compared to other countries. Income … Continue reading “Income Inequality, Policies and Inclusive Growth”