35 years of Virtual Reality..and the work goes on
As Her Majesty The Queen celebrates her 70th year on the throne, we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our own ‘royalty’ – Professor Bob Stone, who looks back on his 35 years of working within the Virtual Reality sector. In this article, Bob takes a look back at his journey […]
What we learnt…..and what’s next?
On 20th May 2022, the Centre for the New Midlands welcomed Eddie Hughes MP (Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing) to deliver its inaugural Housing and Communities Annual Lecture. In this article, Dominic Bradley (CEO, Spring Housing and Member of the Centre’s Housing and Communities Leadership Board) provides some reflections on the Minister’s […]
We all want a legacy…..
Every set of Commonwealth or Olympic Games (or even City of Culture awards for that matter) proclaim that they will have a legacy, but how true is this claim? Ahead of July’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Ed Mayo (Chief Executive of Pilotlight) shares some of his organisation’s experiences of Glasgow 2014 and how […]
Eddie Hughes MP joins Midlands’ think tank to shine a spotlight on the region’s housing challenges
The Centre for the New Midlands’ (CNM) inaugural Housing and Communities Annual Lecture bought together business leaders from across the West Midlands last week, to discuss how the region should best tackle growing challenges within the housing sector. The Coventry-based not-for-profit organisation was joined by industry professionals and prominent academics at HSBC’s offices in Centenary […]
6 Months on from COP26: Conflating Crises and Navigating Opportunities
In this article, Dr Halima Sacranie (Chair of the Centre for the New Midlands Housing and Communities Leadership Board and Research Lead, Housing and Communities Research Group at the University of Birmingham) considers where we are six months on from COP26 as we manage our way through crises and seek to find the […]
Reclaiming Manufacturing in the Midlands – What’s the Way Forward?
In this article, Loxley Graham and Sophie Pontoppidan (Alexander Daniels Global) consider the role that Additive Manufacturing (AM) has to play in the Midlands recapturing its former status as a global industrial capital. The article explores the presence of AM across the region and outlines a vision for how the technology could […]
Paul Woods and Chris Smith present at British BIDs Professional Development Day on what Levelling Up means for the High Street
On 27th April 2022, the Centre for the New Midlands presented at the British BIDs Professional Development Day 2022, providing insights and expertise into what the Levelling Up agenda (and specifically the Government’s recently published White Paper) means for the High Street. The event, which was held at the Assembly Festival Garden in Coventry city […]
Levelling Up aspirations applauded, but concerns expressed on its resourcing and focus
On 26th April 2022, the Centre for the New Midlands hosted its first Panel Discussion, with guests debating the question of whether the Government’s recently published White Paper would kickstart the Levelling Up agenda or if it was too little, too late. The panel, which was comprised of Professor Alex de Ruyter (Director of Brexit […]
Closing the mismatch between what is donated and what charities need
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated awareness and participation in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. However, Libby Kaluna (Senior Partnerships Manager, Acorns Children’s Hospice) suggests that there remains a mismatch between what is donated and what charities need. Libby argues that it is through working in partnership that will “enable us to solve problems, […]
Levelling up by 2030
In this article, Dr Fiona Aldridge (Head of Skills Insight at West Midlands Combined Authority) shares her thoughts on the importance of investing in adult skills in order to level up the West Midlands. Levelling Up the West Midlands by 2030 As the White Paper reminds us, ‘While talent is spread equally […]