Northwest Research Conference – 8 and 9 June 2009
The Regional Intelligence Unit held the Northwest Research Conference on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 June 2009 at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool. The purpose of the event was to communicate the findings of recent projects funded by the Regional Intelligence Unit and partners and in addition to provide guidance on regional and local data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Presentations and sessions on the first day followed a Business and Economy theme whilst day two was devoted to Places, Environment and Opportunity for All. Presentations given at the event are available to download below.
Day 1 - Business and Economy
Introduction (Simon Nokes, NWDA)
Session 1
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM -Led by Aston University)
The GEM research programme is an annual assessment of the national level of entrepreneurial activity. The study aims to understand the level of entrepreneurial activity within the region, attitudes by particular groups and constraints by looking at Total Early stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA). The survey identifies challenges and barriers, attitudes and TEA by under-represented groups. This session will present the main findings from the 2008 GEM study for the Northwest.
Leading Indicators: Weathering the Storm: the economic downturn in the Northwest (Led by Experian)
This session will provide an overview of the macro-economic climate in the Northwest and future prospects for the regional economy as we move towards the upturn.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) - Impact on the North West and the Implementation in ONS Business Surveys (Led by ONS)
This session will outline the impact of the change to UK Standard Industrial Classification of economic activities (SIC) 2007 on the North West. The focus of the presentation will be to use the Inter-departmental business register (IDBR) to outline the impact of the change to SIC 07. In addition, users will be updated on the implementation of SIC 2007 in ONS business statistics.
Strategic Framework for Housing Support (Led by 4NW) Slides Part 1 and Part 2
Supported by the Regional Supported Housing Strategy Group the Strategic Framework for Housing Support will provide direction to future investment in housing support n the Northwest, influence national, regional and local policy and underpin and support local and sub-regional/cross-authority priorities, as defined in local area and multi-area agreements. The main focus of work so far has been to establish the current and future needs for supported housing in the region through the development of a needs model and extensive consultation. The report and associated documents from the needs modelling work have been published. This session will look at the findings of this work together with the North West Needs Assessment Model that has been developed to provide a regional ‘common currency’ that will inform future housing capital allocations, and other financial decisions at a local level. The first iteration of the Model has recently been completed and involved all North West local authorities updating the model to ensure the model is informed by local knowledge and evidence, is robust and up-to-date.
Session 2
Accessing Research to Inform Evidence-Based Policy for Local Government (Led by LARCI & ERSC)
There is an increasing need in the current climate, to not only develop policy which is evidence-based, but also to make the most efficient use of available resources. In this session, we will look at how better links between the local government sector and the research community can exploit existing and future research to plug the knowledge gaps. As a bridge between local authorities and the UK’s research councils, Local Authority Research Council Initiative (LARCI) offers evidence to support policy and practice. Attendees will have the opportunity to identify key areas and themes which would benefit from increased research; share examples of translating research into policy and practice; and explore the opportunities for local government and academics to collaborate.
The Economic Impact of Heritage in the Northwest (Led by Amion)
This research was commissioned in close liaison with English Heritage to understand the direct and indirect economic impact of the Northwest’s many heritage assets, to gain a greater understanding of the historic character of the region and to develop Key Performance Indicators for future use. The study considers tourism/visitor economy impacts, the impact of heritage management operations, businesses located in historic buildings and the impact from specialist conservation and maintenance skills. It also raises awareness of the ‘townscape’ concept which is vital in understanding the full economic impact of the historic environment and moving away from thinking of heritage as merely landmarks and attractions. This session will present the main findings from the study.
Smarter Choice Activities and Travel Plans Across the Region (Led by 4NW)
In February 2009, 4NW, The Regional Leaders Forum commissioned Atkins to undertake a study to examine travel plans and smarter choice implementation for the North West England. The study required the development of a database to assist in the collection and monitoring of data to demonstrate best practice examples of measures being undertaken to reduce CO2 levels from transport. The consultants also examined carbon impacts in the North West from different transport interventions including eco-driving freight and vehicle fuels as well as identifying low, medium and high carbon reduction scenarios, taking account of changes in the car industry, uptake of more efficient vehicles and developments in the freight industry. Estimates of carbon reduction scenarios were made using a specifically developed carbon calculator. This session will present the findings from the study.
Annual Business Inquiry (ABI/1) & Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) and their developments (Led by ONS)
This will provide an overview of the methods used to produce the Annual Business Inquiry (Employment) (ABI/1) - a key source of business data. In addition, it will cover recent and planned changes including SIC 07 and the move to the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) in 2009.
Session 3
RDA National Business Survey (Led by Ipsos)
This is a comprehensive national survey which captures business performance, identifies key constraints on their growth and predicts business optimism for the future, both at a national and regional level. Taking into account strategic issues, investment and competitiveness intentions as well as a whole host of other business indicators we are able to gauge business intentions at a time when the Economic Climate is uncertain.
Economic Impact of Further Education & Higher Education (Led by SQW) - Slides coming shortly
Both studies have aimed to provide a greater understanding of the current and potential impact of Further and Higher Education on the Northwest economy across a broad range of economic factors. The factors examined include; impacts from employment, procurement, capital spend, student spend, students and graduates in the region’s workforce and business and community interactions. The HE study also adds a new dimension to the debate around the value of graduate earnings’ premium. Previous work has focused on the private return to the individual as a basis for valuing a degree whilst this study considers value from the perspective of the employer and the economy to provide an indicative value of the contribution of HE qualifications to the region’s GVA. This session will present the main findings from both studies.
Population & Migration Statistics (Led by ONS)
The presentation will focus on the recent and planned changes to population and migration statistics: key statistics used extensively across the public, private and third sectors.
Inter Departmental Business Register - A Brief Overview (Led by ONS)
To outline how the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) is compiled, recent changes and outputs. The IDBR provides the sampling frame for many ONS business surveys and is a key data source for analysis of business activity.
Session 4
BERR's Household Entrepreneurship Survey & Annual Small Business Survey (Led by IFF)
In 2007 the NWDA paid to boost BERR's Household Entrepreneurship Survey & Annual Small Business Survey (ASBS) for the Northwest. This session will set out the key findings from both studies. The main aims of the ASBS are to: monitor key trends in the characteristics and perceptions of small business owners and managers, gauge intentions, needs, concerns and barriers faced, and act as a sounding board for possible Government interventions to support and assist small businesses. Whilst the household Entrepreneurship Survey seeks to: monitor over time the attitudes and motivations towards going into business and any barriers faced, establish the full range of entrepreneurial activity going on at present and provide robust data on business activity actions and plans.
Regional Economic Forecasting Panel (Led by SQW)
The session will focus on the purpose and work of the North West Regional Economic Forecasting Panel (REFP), and the role it is playing in informing strategy development and policy making within, and for, the region. It will include detail on the methods the Panel uses to arrive at its estimates of forward regional growth, and how these techniques might be developed going forward.
Regional Accounts: Gross Value Added & Gross Disposable Household Income (Led by ONS)
The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of two key measures of the regional and sub regional economy; regional Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI). The presentation will outline methods and outputs.
Regional Index of Sustainable Economic Wellbeing (RISE W - Led by New Economics Foundation)
The Regional Index of Sustainable Economic Well-being (R-ISEW) is an adjusted economic indicator which attempts to monetarise costs and benefits which are not traditionally measured in monetary terms. It brings together a wide range of economic, social and environmental issues into one analytic framework to allow fair comparisons between them. This work allows us to understand how dependent we are on limited resources, of our impact on those resources, and that we need real structural change if we are to make those resources last for more than the next generation or two.
Day 2 - Places, Environment and Opportunity for All
Session 1
Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER - Led by MIER Secretariat)
The Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER) consists of a Commission of prominent economists and business leaders, supported by a Policy Advisory Group and Secretariat, with responsibility for commissioning high quality evidence-based research to inform decision-makers in Manchester. The Review provides a fresh economic narrative which will both inform and raise the level of debate regarding the economic future of the Manchester City Region within the economic development community. This sessions will present the main findings from the review.
RIU Places Study (Led by Pion)
Place matters. Thinking spatially about the regional economy is the key to developing new ideas and ways of connecting both at the local and global scale. This region is very diverse geographically, socially and environmentally, for example Cumbria is a predominantly rural sub-region which has seen a gradual decline in GVA. Greater Manchester in contrast is home to the regions largest city, is predominantly urban and contributes 40% of regional GVA. Understanding ‘place’ is important but it is apparent that it is a difficult concept with varied meanings. This session will illustrate and identify the places; their uniqueness, strengths, weaknesses alongside any growth potential and futures.
Re-Engaging with the Land (Led by Promar)
This study provided an exploratory look at land use in the North West to 2050 with the purpose to stimulate informed debate and discussion, and to get people thinking differently about the way in which we use our most precious asset. For example what are our priorities in land use, what might they be in the future and what impact will climate change have? In addressing these issues this session will present maps of maximum capacity for producing certain crops across the region – where a crop could be grown under future climatic conditions together with the outcomes of regional and sub-regional consultation sessions to try to build a picture of how land use might change in the region under contrasting socio-economic conditions.
Renewables & Waste (Led by Arup & Urban Mines)
The purpose of this session is establishing the need for the Regional Strategy to identify the broad locations on a geographical and/or criteria basis for nationally, regionally and sub-regionally significant waste management and renewable energy facilities.
Session 2
City Relationships: Understanding the factors that contribute to complementary relationships between cities (Led by The Work Foundation)
Why relationships between cities matter: This session will present on the role of place, the relationships between cities in different city regions and the policy implications of the different relationships cities have with each other.
Improving the North West region's knowledge base of the LGBT population (Led by Ecotec)
There is currently a lack of data on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) population in the North West meaning policy makers lack a detailed understanding of needs. This study is providing the NWDA with a population estimate of the LGBT population using data on same sex households underpinned with other regional data. The study is adopting a peer research methodology to conduct research with LGBT individuals through focus groups and in depth interviews to explore needs and experiences in a range of areas where the NWDA specialise including employment, business support and education and training. The final report will provide detailed information on the needs and experiences of this community, relevant to policy makers across the region. This session will present emerging findings from this innovative approach.
Security Research (Led by WM Enterprise)
The purpose of this research is to explore the issues between security at both a regional and local level and economic development. If perceptions of a place are 'insecure' because of terrorist threats or local community gang cultures, what are the impacts on this on economic development? This session will develop your understanding of the economic cost of security failures as well as 'safety' perceptions of an area damaged by gun crime/gang culture.
Environmental Considerations in Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth (ECOSEG - Led by SQW)
In late Spring 2008, SQW Consulting was tasked with mapping the environmental resources (natural and manmade) in the North West, and to consider the role that these might play in supporting the region's socioeconomic development objectives. The key focus of the study was on four critical types of infrastructure - Energy, Transport, Water and Waste. Using existing evidence from a very wide range of sources, SQW examined what the current demand on these infrastructures was and how this might be managed to best accommodate growth and sustainability objectives. SQW will present the main headlines from this work. Copies of the final outputs from this research are available in the Quality of Life section of the Research Programme.
Session 3
Growth Corridor (Led by SQW)
In April 2008, a consortium led by SQW Consulting was commissioned by the NWDA to undertake a study into the existence and economic potential for a growth corridor stretching between Manchester and Liverpool (the Study Area). Based upon a through analysis of qualitative and quantitative evidence, the aim of the study was to identify specific areas of activity where collaboration across the geography of the Study Area may deliver additional economic benefit to the regional economy. This session will clarify your understanding of the economic performance of the spatial area including and between the two cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
Understanding the impact of ethnicity on perceptions of workplace skills and training (Led by Ecotec)
ECOTEC was commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council in July 2008 to understand the impact that ethnicity had on employers' perceptions of the skill and training requirements of their workforce. The research involved a survey of over 500 BME owned businesses in the region plus interviews with 100 white owned businesses to provide comparative analysis. The main aim of the research was to provide actionable findings to inform services delivery about how best to support BME owned businesses in the North West which included: the processes used by BME businesses to recruit & ascertain the skills that prospective employees have, employer perceptions of training requirements, awareness and use of training advice/ guidance and business support. This session will present the main findings from the research.
Climate Change Impact and Responses for Key Business Sectors and Public Services in the Northwest (Led by ARUP)
This workshop will outline the major climate change impacts which the North West is facing, and show how these impacts have been mapped onto the region's critical economic sectors. From this analysis, a number of sector-specific adaption actions emerge. The session will also describe how tools from the UK Climate Impacts Programme have been applied on a regional basis. Many of the lessons in managing climate change risks are transferable to managing other economic risks for the region. Finally, this project explored how to transfer research findings to a non-research audience effectively and these methods will also be discussed.
Potential Measures to Reduce CO2 by 2020 (Led by URS)
This session will be talking about work carried out by URS for 4NW and NWDA looking at potential total carbon savings across the North West region by 2020. This work reviewed the potential impact of national, regional and local measures. It assessed the likely effectiveness of policies and initiatives and pointed out a number of areas for attention. One of the key findings of the work was the need for regional and local players to focus on the effective implementation of existing national, regional and local initiatives.
Session 4
Economic Potential of Preston (Led by GVA Grimley)
GVA Grimley will be presenting the key findings from their report into the Economic Potential of Preston and the wider Central Lancashire area, following a six month study. This wide ranging study has included analysis of Preston's physical assets and attributes; its human capital; business base; leadership structures; and the wider macro-economic context. The report will inform the Agency and Central Lancashire's approach to developing Preston as the third city of the Northwest
The Mental Health & Wellbeing of Northwest Learners aged 14-19 & The Barriers Encountered by Deaf Students in Further Education (Led by LSC and Signature)
The Mental Health & Wellbeing of Northwest Learners aged 14-19 - the session will present the main findings and recommendations of a scoping study into the ‘real’ levels of psychological and emotional distress experienced by young people in further education. The study explored the notion that there are more learners having these experiences than those who are captured by official statistics. The Barriers Encountered by Deaf Students in Further Education (FE) - in 2008, Signature undertook research on the barriers faced by deaf students. The study, which incorporated a large research conference, asked deaf learners and the FE workforce what was blocking deaf students from achieving their full potential. The results will be presented in this session and are wide ranging: there are clear areas for workforce development and educational infrastructure improvement.
Mersey Life and From sound science to sustainable solutions - Protecting the Lakes, their catchments and communities (Led by Environment Agency)
The first half of the session will give a brief background to the Mersey Life Project and then detail how a portfolio of potential projects using GIS technology have been developed through a process that brought together environmental and social data to identify issues, problems and opportunities for improvement projects. The process was supported by site investigations which allowed both a strategic and targeted approach to river restoration to be taken and helped the development of a range of projects of varying scale, which will deliver environmental and social benefits to a number of Environment Agency, Regional and Local Authority strategies. The second half of this session will start with the Environment Agency’s long term monitoring through to the expansion to fill in the information gaps. It will then look at the methods used to convert this hard data into language usable by managers in influencing protective measures in the Northwest's most sensitive environment. All that is covered will be coincident with the first set of lake standards set up through the new Water Framework Directive.
Economic Impact of Flood Risk associated with Climate Change in the Northwest (Led by URS -findings to be uploaded in due course)
URS will present the findings of their work to identify the Economic Impacts of Flood Risk Associated with Climate Change in the North West of England, focussing on the average annual damages to key business sectors.