Following in the Footsteps of Filmmakers – Is Regenerative Screen Tourism achievable?
In this article, Mark Hughes-Webb (CEO & Founder, The Space-2 Group) poses the question: Regenerative screen tourism – is it achievable and what factors influence a region’s approach to it? (July 2025) Last month, I attended the West Midlands Tourism Forum and it was great to be able to hear from the region’s leading tourism […]
From heavy industry to health innovation: Birmingham’s next industrial revolution
To celebrate the opening of one of the region’s most exciting new initiatives, we invited Professor Gino Martini (Chief Executive, Precision Health Technologies Accelerator – PHTA Ltd) to tell us more about this new centre of excellence for the West Midlands and why it is the right project at the right time for the region. […]
NHS Fit Homes: More Than Just Building Social Housing
As the UK intensifies efforts to address the national housing crisis, Dr Sana Malik (Lecturer at Birmingham School of Architecture & Design, Birmingham City University and Associate Researcher at Centre for the New Midlands) poses a deeper question: are the homes we are building truly supporting people’s health and wellbeing, or merely ticking boxes for […]
Career Success in Construction: A Tougher Road for Ethnic Minority Groups
In this article, Muhammad Sibi (Founder & Director, SibiNet and Chair of the Future Skills Theme Group, Constructing Excellence Midlands) explores the challenges facing ethnic minorities in the Construction sector and outlines why a diverse workforce is crucial for businesses and includes some tips for how to drive change in recruitment and retention. (July 2025) […]
Digital Dignity and Local Power: How Women’s Wellbeing is Leading Transformation in East Birmingham
The regeneration of East Birmingham is one of the key priorities for the West Midlands. In this article, we hear from Raaj Shamji (Head of Public and Community Engagement at Birmingham City University) who shares how the university is supporting key local changemakers such as Shabana Qureshi (Founder and CEO, Women’s Wellbeing) who are helping […]
Technology Adoption and Business Support: Why we need to end the postcode lottery
Ahead of the launch of Britain’s long-awaited industrial strategy, Sarah Windrum (former Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, member of CNM’s Digital Leadership Board and Deputy Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board) shares her reflections on the challenges businesses face adopting new technologies. (June 2025) I co-founded a technology business in 2009 […]
How the Spending Review affects homebuilders
In this article, Clive Benfield, Chair & Director, Fletcher Homes (Shropshire) shares some of his reflections on what the Spending Review means for housebuilders across the West Midlands. Clive suggests that whilst the increased investment in the Affordable Housing Programme will be a welcome boost to the housebuilding industry as it will go some way […]
Was the Spending Review worth the wait? The headlines are promising
On Wednesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer declared to Parliament: “We’re turning the tide against the unacceptable housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation, delivering on our commitment to get Britain building. I’m proud to announce the biggest cash injection into social and affordable […]
What can £2.4 billion spent on local transport infrastructure do for us?
Today the West Midlands is a powerhouse of potential with a new high speed rail connection under construction and internationally renowned sporting development to major investments in healthcare, manufacturing, commercial and leisure space. The entire region is brimming with opportunities, but this must be carefully and collaboratively planned to ensure that the benefits are maximised […]
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher : Home and the Regeneration of Ladywood
Birmingham City Council has hailed the Ladywood Estate Regeneration Scheme as “the city’s most significant housing redevelopment opportunity in a generation,” promising £2.2 billion of investment over 20 years. In this article, Marco Di Nunzio (Associate Professor of Urban Anthropology, University of Birmingham) interrogates what is at stake when a regeneration risks overlooking the profound […]