Our Research
Employability and Skills - Our Focus:
Purpose:
The West Midlands faces some of the UK’s highest levels of economic inactivity, persistent productivity gaps, and deep inequalities between places. The Board will provide a policy platform capable of shaping long-term solutions that support growth and a competitive, future-ready workforce.
Why This Matters for the region:
- The region’s labour market has been slower to recover from economic shocks than other parts of the UK.
- Youth unemployment remains above the national average in several local authority areas.
- Key sectors—including manufacturing, health and social care, professional services, and digital—report chronic skills shortages.
- The shift toward net zero, automation, and advanced manufacturing demands rapid reskilling, yet too many adults remain disconnected from training.
- Leadership capacity varies widely across institutions, affecting the region’s ability to respond to long-term structural challenges.
These issues require coordinated, evidence-driven action—something the new Board is designed to deliver.
The West Midlands faces some of the UK’s highest levels of economic inactivity, persistent productivity gaps, and deep inequalities between places. The Board will provide a policy platform capable of shaping long-term solutions that support growth and a competitive, future-ready workforce.
Why This Matters for the region:
- The region’s labour market has been slower to recover from economic shocks than other parts of the UK.
- Youth unemployment remains above the national average in several local authority areas.
- Key sectors—including manufacturing, health and social care, professional services, and digital—report chronic skills shortages.
- The shift toward net zero, automation, and advanced manufacturing demands rapid reskilling, yet too many adults remain disconnected from training.
- Leadership capacity varies widely across institutions, affecting the region’s ability to respond to long-term structural challenges.
These issues require coordinated, evidence-driven action—something the new Board is designed to deliver.
Priorities:
What we intend to focus our research on:
1. Reducing Economic Inactivity & Improving Employability
- Analyse barriers to participation across communities disproportionately affected (e.g., older workers, young people, those with long-term health conditions).
- Map mismatches between skills provision and employer demand across LEP/combined authority geographies.
- Identify scalable interventions that link local training ecosystems with the region’s emerging growth sectors (clean tech, mobility, advanced manufacturing).
2. Building Leadership & Institutional Capacity
- Address the region’s leadership challenge: improving capability, governance culture, and organisational resilience across public institutions, anchor organisations, and SMEs.
- Explore how leadership development can strengthen local delivery of national and regional priorities such as devolution, regeneration, and net-zero transitions.
3. Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
- Identify best practice in attracting and developing talent across key West Midlands sectors.
- Understand why skilled workers leave or stay in the region—and what policy levers can reverse skills leakage.
- Support employers to design progression pathways that boost productivity and reduce churn.
Our Key Research Questions:
- What explains the West Midlands’ persistently high levels of economic inactivity, and which interventions actually shift participation?
- How well do FE, HE, and employer-led training systems respond to the region’s industrial priorities?
- What capabilities do local leaders need to deliver more effective policy and navigate complexity?
- Which talent practices—from large employers to community-led initiatives—demonstrably move the dial on recruitment, retention, and progression?
Outputs:
Planned Outputs:
- Policy Briefing Series
Short, targeted insights on economic inactivity, sector skills needs, leadership capability, and labour-market transitions.
- Regional Data and Evidence Dashboards
Clear, accessible intelligence for policymakers, businesses, and educators.
- Leadership & Talent Case Study Library
Spotlighting replicable models from across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and surrounding areas.
- Pilot Project Recommendations
Evidence-based proposals for regional trial interventions aligned to devolved powers and local strategic priorities.
- Stakeholder Roundtables & Working Groups
Structured forums convening West Midlands employers, universities, colleges, councils, and community partners.
Roundtable Reports
‘Skills to Success’ Roundtable Report - April 2026
The Centre for the New Midlands convened a high-level roundtable on 16 April 2026, bringing together 20 senior leaders from business, regional government, education, and the third sector.
The session, sponsored by Talent Today and chaired by Ian Harrison, focused on addressing regional skills challenges and strengthening education-to-employment pathways.
The discussion centred on improving youth employability, closing skills gaps, enhancing workforce productivity, and fostering stronger collaboration between employers and education providers.
Participants shared sector-specific insights, highlighted best practices, and explored practical solutions to systemic challenges.
Our Leadership Board
