State of the Region 2021

Welcome to the executive summary of the State of the Region 2021 the fifth annual review of how the region has fared in the last 12 months. This report is written on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, and all its partners by WMREDI. It should be seen as a stocktake of where the region stands, it’s a snapshot on how the region is doing and where partners need to work together to improve the region. But this year, as last, it is still produced in extraordinary circumstances and it is a call to action for everyone invested in the West Midlands. This year the report has been incredibly difficult to write, as data and implications have been changing rapidly, as different policy responses have been put in place. Since starting the process of writing in February 2021 the landscape has changed many times, and will continue to change over the coming months as the country opens up once again. Therefore this year the authors have kept to the high level data and the monitoring indicators to minimise the effect of rapidly changing data. It is therefore a high-level report in comparison to its predecessors due to the wealth of research and supporting reports published throughout the pandemic. As in previous years the report highlights the major challenges facing the region, its citizens and businesses and the challenge facing all bodies charged with improving the wellbeing, economy and environment. It is important to note this report was written in June 2021 and that some of the data included changes on a weekly basis. Latest data will be found in the weekly monitors as circumstances unfold. This report endeavours to be an honest reflection of the current regional conditions, specifically highlighting the challenges faced in the next 12 months. However, the report is not attempting to suggest what the solutions are or whose responsibility it is to deliver them; this lies within strategies and action plans of all the regional partners, who own and deliver activities in the West Midlands. It is an executive summary as part of a suite of documents which highlights the evidence base and continuing to build our understanding of the performance of the region. There are challenges to understanding this performance and how partners change places for the better, not least understanding the causation and causality between action, output and outcomes. This document provides a balanced approach to regional monitoring and is a useful tool to understand the progress the region is making through our combined action.<br/

State of the Region 2021

Welcome to the executive summary of the State of the Region 2021 the fifth annual review of how the region has fared in the last 12 months. This report is written on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, and all its partners by WMREDI. It should be seen as a stocktake of where the region stands, it’s a snapshot on how the region is doing and where partners need to work together to improve the region. But this year, as last, it is still produced in extraordinary circumstances and it is a call to action for everyone invested in the West Midlands. This year the report has been incredibly difficult to write, as data and implications have been changing rapidly, as different policy responses have been put in place. Since starting the process of writing in February 2021 the landscape has changed many times, and will continue to change over the coming months as the country opens up once again. Therefore this year the authors have kept to the high level data and the monitoring indicators to minimise the effect of rapidly changing data. It is therefore a high-level report in comparison to its predecessors due to the wealth of research and supporting reports published throughout the pandemic. As in previous years the report highlights the major challenges facing the region, its citizens and businesses and the challenge facing all bodies charged with improving the wellbeing, economy and environment. It is important to note this report was written in June 2021 and that some of the data included changes on a weekly basis. Latest data will be found in the weekly monitors as circumstances unfold. This report endeavours to be an honest reflection of the current regional conditions, specifically highlighting the challenges faced in the next 12 months. However, the report is not attempting to suggest what the solutions are or whose responsibility it is to deliver them; this lies within strategies and action plans of all the regional partners, who own and deliver activities in the West Midlands. It is an executive summary as part of a suite of documents which highlights the evidence base and continuing to build our understanding of the performance of the region. There are challenges to understanding this performance and how partners change places for the better, not least understanding the causation and causality between action, output and outcomes. This document provides a balanced approach to regional monitoring and is a useful tool to understand the progress the region is making through our combined action.<br/

State of the Region 2020

The State of the Region 2020 is the fourth annual review of performance across the West Midlands, In this edition we had already begun the process of moving to a wider analysis focussing on alignment to monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report is written on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority and all its partners, it should be seen as a stocktake of where the region stands, it’s a snapshot on where we are doing well and where we need to work together to improve the region. But this year it is produced in extraordinary circumstances it’s a call to action for everyone invested in the West Midlands. It is important to note this report was written in June 2020 and that some of the data included changes on a weekly basis. Latest data will be found in the weekly monitors as circumstances unfold.It endeavours to be an honest reflection of the current regional condition, highlighting the challenges we face. However, we are not attempting to suggest what the solutions are; this lies within strategies and action plans the WMCA and partners own and deliver. It highlights how we are driving our evidence base for the future and continuing to build our understanding of the performance of the region. There are challenges to understanding this performance and how we change places for the better, not least understanding the causation and causality between action, output and outcomes. This document provides a balanced approach to regional monitoring and a useful tool understand the progress we are making through our combined action.<br/

State of the Region 2020

The State of the Region 2020 is the fourth annual review of performance across the West Midlands, In this edition we had already begun the process of moving to a wider analysis focussing on alignment to monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report is written on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority and all its partners, it should be seen as a stocktake of where the region stands, it’s a snapshot on where we are doing well and where we need to work together to improve the region. But this year it is produced in extraordinary circumstances it’s a call to action for everyone invested in the West Midlands. It is important to note this report was written in June 2020 and that some of the data included changes on a weekly basis. Latest data will be found in the weekly monitors as circumstances unfold.It endeavours to be an honest reflection of the current regional condition, highlighting the challenges we face. However, we are not attempting to suggest what the solutions are; this lies within strategies and action plans the WMCA and partners own and deliver. It highlights how we are driving our evidence base for the future and continuing to build our understanding of the performance of the region. There are challenges to understanding this performance and how we change places for the better, not least understanding the causation and causality between action, output and outcomes. This document provides a balanced approach to regional monitoring and a useful tool understand the progress we are making through our combined action.<br/

Fuelling City-Regions, why skills matter

Issues relating to skills are at the forefront of topical debates about economic prosperity, productivity and inclusive growth. While policy makers at national and sub-national levels have long been concerned with skills levels, skills shortage and skills gaps, devolution and the development of an Industrial Strategy recognising the importance of place have provided even greater impetus to debates about skills at city-region level. This City-REDI policy briefing sets out why skills matter, with a particular focus on the situation in the city-region covered by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Subsequent policy briefings will focus on other issues relating to skills, including skills mismatches and deficiencies, and skills implications of sectoral approaches to inclusive growth

Fuelling City-Regions, why skills matter

Issues relating to skills are at the forefront of topical debates about economic prosperity, productivity and inclusive growth. While policy makers at national and sub-national levels have long been concerned with skills levels, skills shortage and skills gaps, devolution and the development of an Industrial Strategy recognising the importance of place have provided even greater impetus to debates about skills at city-region level. This City-REDI policy briefing sets out why skills matter, with a particular focus on the situation in the city-region covered by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Subsequent policy briefings will focus on other issues relating to skills, including skills mismatches and deficiencies, and skills implications of sectoral approaches to inclusive growth

A review of the economic and social value produced through funding PhD students

UK Research and Innovation funded over £3bn into PhD-level study in 2022/23. The impacts of PhD study can have significant positive impacts on professional and personal development, especially for women, as well as generate significant returns for the individual, the Exchequer, industry, and university-industry collaborations. Still, there is a need to better understand the how PhD study fits into a place-based strategy, and civic role of universities, and their relationships with industry and place. This report shares the findings of a rapid evidence review into the economic and social impacts of PhDs to improve evidence and make an informed case for PhD study as part of a wider civic mission

Advanced Ceramics Sector - An Industry of the Future:Sector Profile for the Midlands (UK) – 2021

This sector profile evidences demand for the rapid expansion of advanced ceramics, and the Midlands is well positioned to grow and create jobs in this industry.This report was commissioned by the Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) (an academic and industrial consortium) in partnership with the Midlands Engine Observatory. . Its purpose is to raise awareness of the importance of advanced ceramics to UK industry and highlight the opportunities for growth in the Midlands.<br/