Key contact

Andy Phillips
Head of Skills Research
West Midlands Regional Observatory
T: 0121 202 3251
E: andy.phillips@wmro.org

Podcasts

Subscribe in iTunesSubscribe to our podcasts using iTunes

Subscribe to our podcasts using an RSS reader other than iTunes

Developing a knowledge economy workshop

In this workshop held at the Observatory's Annual Conference on 13 October 2008, delegates were challenged to consider the issues that need to be tackled and action that needs to be taken to make a knowledge economy a reality.

Does place matter?

Dr. Julie BrownDr Julie Brown from the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies at Birmingham University highlighted key findings from a pan-​European research project which highlighted the importance of ‘soft’ factors such as the cultural, leisure and recreational offer, the ‘look and feel’ of a city, environmental quality, tolerance and diversity and safe and attractive neighbourhoods in attracting knowledge intensive businesses and talent.

Delegates highlighted the negative image of Birmingham in particular, especially in relation to crime rates.

In reality, the research suggests that it is more that people are ‘pulled’ to the brighter lights of London, for example, than pushed out of the region by negative factors.

Statistically, Birmingham is one of the safest cities in the UK. There is a need to market the region more effectively nationally and internationally.

Higher education access to research and training

Dr Helen Brown, Director of the West Midlands Higher Education Association highlighted the need to make more of the research expertise available to businesses from the region’s universities, if we are to make the knowledge economy a reality. To this end she outlined the key features of the new HEART portal that has been developed to facilitate university/​business collaboration on R&D.

Leadership and management skills

Andy Phillips, Head of Skills Research at the West Midlands Regional Observatory, and Derek Hartshorne, Business Development Manager at the Lantra Sector Skills Council, highlighted the need for effective leadership and management in a knowledge economy.

The skills and talent attracted to the region needs to be harnessed and exploited to the full. Research shows a need to address significant leadership and management skills issues within the region’s businesses and for innovative solutions that meet specific needs. To this end a project targeting medium-​sized businesses has been successfully piloted in the West Midlands and is now being rolled out on a larger scale.

Delegates highighted the need to ensure that small and micro businesses are also included, who are in particular need of help and support if they are to realise their potential.

The outcomes from this and a previous State of the Region dialogue on the knowledge economy will help to shape further research on the region’s knowledge economy to be undertaken over the coming months by the Work Foundation, commissioned by Advantage West Midlands.

The speakers' slides for this workshop are available on the downloads tab.

Back to top