CNM submission to LUHC inquiry
In January 2022, the Centre for the New Midlands submitted our first ‘formal’ response to a Government call for evidence. We are delighted to have responded to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee Inquiry into exempt accommodation which appealed for evidence following a wide range of stakeholders, including elected members from across the […]
The Business of Youth Service Investment
“Youth services, in their many guises, are a fantastic social investment capable of achieving not only morally desirable social outcomes, but greater economic returns for business, the exchequer and the West Midlands.” In this article, Tom McNeil (Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands) explains why. The Business of Youth Service Investment […]
We cannot miss the chance to level up Supported Housing
The Centre for the New Midlands has just responded to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee Inquiry into exempt accommodation. This appeal for evidence was called after a wide range of stakeholders, including elected members from across the political spectrum, expressed concern that “unscrupulous landlords were failing to provide the support and care […]
Artificial Intelligence & Data Initiatives in the West Midlands – SWOT
Tim Fisher (Member of the Centre for the New Midlands’ Digital Leadership Board) has spent almost 20 years in Enterprise Architecture and Senior IT Management roles across both consulting and industry. He spends his time advising customers on their IT and Data Strategies, including the operating models, solutions, roadmaps and business cases that enable them. […]
Why are we not valuing volunteering in the West Midlands?
Why are we not valuing volunteering across the West Midlands? In this article, Fidelis Navas (Founder and MD, Gamma Talent) explores the impact of volunteering across the region and poses the question of if we could be doing more to value the role of volunteers and to make it more coordinated across the […]
We need to do more on digital exclusion
The pandemic has impacted a variety of societal norms and expectations. Virtual working practices, the acceptance of online shopping as normal, and the need to access health and educational services online are just three examples of fundamental changes to our everyday existence. But for some, the pace of digitalisation has been too fast, the changes […]
Power to local people: how community business can achieve Levelling Up
In the 2019 election, the Conservatives won a number of seats based on their promises to “level up” parts of the country, by reducing the disparity in regional growth. In doing so, their ambition was to restore “local pride” in places that had been “left behind”. In anticipation of the Levelling Up White Paper […]
Being Missed or Missing Out? How do our current practices around rough sleeping impact on women?
Rough sleeping, and the imperative to reduce immediately visible homelessness, has been a clear priority of the current and previous Conservative governments; something policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have thrown into sharper focus. Whilst in no way underestimating or underplaying the scale of the injustices that create our rough sleeping ‘crisis’, this […]
COP26: Who will declare themselves as the ‘Global Capital of the Green Industrial Revolution’?
During the ensuing anticipation of COP26 being held in Glasgow this month, Climate Change has moved from being an ‘issue’ to being a ‘crisis’ and now to ‘an emergency’. In this article, Darren Jones (ESG Director of Sonihull and Chair of the Environment, Transport and Infrastructure Leadership Board at the Centre for the […]
Access to Finance: Where do we go from here?
Following on from the various financial support programmes made available to business through the pandemic and the Chancellor’s recent 2021 Budget, Dr. Steve Walker (CEO, ART Business Loans) considers some of the challenges facing business and what is next for them in terms of being able to access the finance they need […]