Healthy Homes for Britain: Lessons policymakers and social landlords need to hear from tenants on damp and mould in social housing
In this article, Dr Hannah Absalom (Research Associate, Centre for the New Midlands) highlights the insights and feedback from a resonance workshop held on October 24, 2024, involving a tenant research panel focused on the Social Housing Quality Fund (SHQF) Evaluation report. This panel consisted of the same group of tenants who had earlier taken […]
New report evaluates the success of the Social Housing Quality Fund to tackle damp and mould in homes
According to a new report from the Centre for the New Midlands, a regional thinktank dedicated to the improvement of the West Midlands, the impact of living in damp and mouldy homes is far from a legacy issue and one that continues to negatively impact the wider community. This is despite the previous government’s efforts […]
Serious about economic growth? Then it’s time to get serious about investing in skills
In a series of personal reflections on Budget 2024, Dr Fiona Aldridge (Chief Executive, Skills Federation) shares her reflections on what the Budget means for the Skills agenda and highlights that the focus on responding to the skills needs of industry must remain a priority. (November 2024) Whatever your politics, I’m sure we […]
Budget 2024: The Budget with a Sting in its Tail
In a series of personal reflections on Budget 2024, Alan Fraser (Member of CNM’s Housing and Communities Leadership Board and Proprietor, Alan Fraser Consultancy & Support) gives an insight into the announcements made and the impact that they may, or may not have, on addressing the country’s housing crisis. (November 2024) For housing […]
Budget 2024: Views from BRI Wealth Management
In a series of personal reflections on Budget 2024, Dan Boardman-Weston (Chief Executive Officer, BRI Wealth Management) offers an overview of the Budget’s key points and some reflections on what it means for taxpayers. (November 2024) After months of speculation and worry we finally know what taxes will be increased to try and fix […]
Budget 2024: £100bn Capital investment Bonanza for UK to ‘invest, invest, invest’
In a series of personal reflections on Budget 2024, here are some thoughts from Beverley Nielsen (Research Associate, Centre for the New Midlands) on the first Budget delivered by the new Labour government. (October 2024) Promoting investment topped the agenda as the Chancellor sought to restore economic stability in the first Labour budget in […]
Industrial strategy: why it’s time to pick (and back) winners
Today (Monday 14th October) sees the Government launch its Industrial Strategy Green Paper, coinciding with the hosting of its International Investment Summit in the City of London – an event that “will comprise more than £50bn of deal announcements – or roughly twice the £28bn unveiled at the previous comparable gathering held under the former […]
Exploding the myth of modern employment
The Skills agenda is at the heart of both regional and national politics; how we need to ensure that business can fill the vast sectoral vacancies in a post Covid environment but also how we educate and train people for the careers of the future. In this article, Ian Harrison (Director, Growhouse Growth Business) takes […]
Ending Furniture Poverty: The Hidden Crisis Facing Families
As energy bills rise again and demand for food banks continue to grow, the extent and impact of poverty is never far from the headlines but hidden behind millions of front doors lies another subset of poverty that should not be ignored. In this article, Claire Donovan (Head of Policy, Research & Campaigns, End Furniture […]
Uniting Housing and Skills: A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in the West Midlands
The West Midlands stands at a crucial juncture in its development trajectory. As the region grapples with persistent housing challenges, particularly in the social housing sector, there is a growing recognition that addressing these issues requires more than just bricks and mortar. In this article, Joanna Lee-Mills (Partner and Head of Social Housing Development, Shakespeare […]