E-briefing 19 - February 2007
E-briefing Issue 19: February 2007
Editorial
Hello, and welcome to the February 2007 edition of the e-briefing of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU). The RIU's aim is to improve access to information and intelligence for the region's public and private sectors.
This briefing will highlight recent activities of the NWDA Research Team, latest additions to the Extranet and of data release dates for the coming months.
Since the last e-briefing the Research Team has gone through a number of staff and role changes and is now back to its full staff level of 8. The current staff members are:-
Rebecca Riley - Head of Research - Rebecca remains as the Head of the NWDA Research Team and the Regional Intelligence Unit
Andy Mowlah - Research Manager - Andy started with the team, in this new position, in August 2006 and supports the Head of Research in the management of the NWDA research programme and operationally manages the Research Team and is responsible for the professional supply, maintenance and improvement of information and intelligence provision to internal NWDA staff and external partners.
Nicola Christie - Economist - In July 2006 Nicola was promoted from Information Manager to this role and is responsible for the delivery of economic intelligence and forecasting to the Agency and the development of the economic evidence base to support the Regional Economic Strategy and additionally services the North West Regional Intelligence Unit function to regional partners.
Emma Charnock - Information Manager - Emma was promoted, in August 2006, to this role and operationally managed the Information Team and is responsible for the professional supply, maintenance and improvement of information provision to internal NWDA staff and external partners and the security, integrity and quality of all information and intelligence provided.
Vanessa Smallman - Information Analyst (Extranet) - Vanessa remains in this post and deal with information and intelligence requests in addition to being responsible for the maintenance and development of the RIU Extranet.
Adam Crockett - Information Analyst (Economic) - Adam was recruited to the team in November 2006 and delivers statistically based research and subsequent analysis in response to data and intelligence requests and provides support top the Regional Economic Forecasting Panel including production of the State of the Region Report.
Matt Waltho - Senior Analyst - In July 2006 Matt was promoted from Intelligence Analyst (GIS) to this role and delivers and manages timely and accurate strategic and spatial intelligence and ensures compliance with laws of data protection and copyright relating to the Pan Government Agreement.
Yvonne Herbert - Intelligence Analyst (GIS) - Yvonne was recruited internally to the team in September 2006 and assists in the delivery of strategic and spatial intelligence.
The current contract for the RIU Extranet site is due for renewal, therefore, a tender was circulated in November 2006 for the re-design and hosting for a 3 year period from April 2007. Following a tender panel a preferred supplier has been selected and work will go ahead shortly to deliver a more modern, eye catching and easy to read Extranet with improved navigation. The new Extranet site will also include a mapping tool which will allow users access to spatial data.
Kind Regards
Vanessa Smallman, Editor
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NWDA Research Team Update
The NWDA Research Team's recent activities include:
Research Panel - The Research Consultancy Panel is a Framework Agreement which has been put in place to meet consultancy requirements in relation to the collection, collation, analysis and interpretation of data of relevance to policy or practice, to increase understanding about current and future trends, needs and good practice. The Panel is broken down into four categories: Main, Economic, Social and Environmental. Please contact Andy Mowlah for further details.
Economic Forecasting Forum - The Research Team has been tasked with bringing together the economic forecasting capabilities held throughout the region and sub-regions. The first action was to commission and independent piece of research which examined the different economic forecasting models used by partners, how they are used and the potential of the different models. This work has been completed and work is on-going in comparing the underlying data and assumptions of the different models so that there is greater understanding of the comparability of outputs from different models.
Maps - Examples include:-
Incidence of Mental Health in Northwest:-
Assisted Areas
Spatial Dimensions of the RES - Sub Regional Maps:-
The Research Team are currently producing a suite of maps against the RES, at Local Authority level.
Productivity - This piece of work will investigate the reasons behind the comparatively low level of productivity in the region relative to the national level, as well as sectoral productivity disparities. Evidence from this work will be used to shape policy interventions in order to raise regional productivity. SQW and Cambridge Econometrics have delivered their final report and the Research Team is now taking this forward by developing further analysis of productivity against other regions.
Business Continuity and Perceptions of Business Crime in the North West Region - Recognising the importance of business crime and business continuity, this research, commissioned by NWDA and GONW and conducted by BMG Research, aims to provide unbiased evidence about crime experienced by North West businesses, and the extent to which North West businesses plan or require support to plan for unforeseen events. Please use the following links to access the qualitative report, quantitative report, BMG workshop presentation and Alex Hirschfield's presentation.
Regional Economic Forecasting Panel - The Northwest Regional Economic Forecasting Panel was set up in 2003 as a service to business and to others concerned with the development of the Northwest as a thriving regional economy. the Panel meets four times a year and annually produces two forecasts looking out over the next three years, which are mainly as a service to business, regular assessments of the state of the regional economy and a third forecast looking forward over a period of 20 years which builds upon these assessments.
The Panel's new long-term forecast which is based on an analysis of developments in the regional economy over the past 15 years will be published shortly. Please click here to access previous reports.
RES Review - As part of the implementation of the RES, the Advisory Group committed to produce a baseline report, against which progress in implementing the RES can be gauged. This baseline report sets out, for each factor, the objectives agreed in the RES, and the key data which we will use to know if appropriate progress is being made. The report sets a baseline for each dataset and then either a target for 2009, as well as a progress of activity.
Worklessness - The worklessness project has been undertaken in collaboration with the NWDA Marketing and Skills teams. IPPR have delivered a draft report on worklessness, based on a series of workshops held at the party political conferences in late summer and available data on employment and skills.
Migration - The Agency has funded two pieces of work on migration and reports are now available. The first was part of a national study comparing national data on migration and also carrying out a case study on Cheshire & Warrington. The second study has been carried out by Merseyside Social Inclusion Observatory and looks in depth at the experience of migrants to the Northwest.
Economic Impact of Rugby League in England's Northwest - Rugby League is currently enjoying a period of significant growth and popularity, attracting more spectators at live games and more television viewers than ever before. We have identified rugby league as a substantial economic driver in the region. As an Agency we have begun to work with partners such as the Rugby Football League to identify, through a more cohesive approach, whether rugby league can make a stronger contribution to the future growth of the region's economy.
Stern Review - On 30th October 2006, Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the Government Economic Service and former World Bank Chief Economist, published the most comprehensive review ever carried out on the economic impacts of climate change. Commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the review examines evidence on the economic impacts of climate change itself, and considers the complex policy challenges involved in managing the transition to a low-carbon economy and in ensuring that societies can adapt to the consequences of climate change that can no longer be avoided. Please click here to access the NWDA Research Team's briefing.
Pre Budget Report 2007 - The Chancellor delivered his Pre-Budget Report on Wednesday 6th December 2006. The aim of the report is to provide progress on what has been achieved so far, give an update on the state of the economy and public finances and set out the direction of Government policy in the run up to the spring Budget. Please click here to access the NWDA Research Team's briefing which details the main points of the report.
Sport England Active People Summary -The Sport England Active People Survey was carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Sport England and was designed to yield a representative sample of adults aged 16+ to provide a reliable and robust measurement of participation in sport, active recreation and volunteering rates. The study covers all 354 local authorities in England and was conducted through telephone interviews. The NWDA Research Team briefing summarises the Survey.
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Latest Additions to the RIU Extranet
ONS Regional Snapshot The
Regional Snapshot provides easy access to a wide range of sub national products via the National Statistics website. This webpage acts as a route map to a wide range of products - publications, reports, datasets, mapping and graphical representations. Regional Snapshot currently provides an overview for each area, table of key regional statistics, map showing population densities for constituent local authorities, a selection of statistics at unitary/local authority and district level and links to further regional information for each region or country of the UK.
Regional Accounts 2006
On the 15th December 2006 the Office for National Statistics released Region, Sub-regional and Local Gross Value Added estimates for the period 1989-2005. The NWDA Research Team has produced a Northwest summary document and are working on producing a detailed GVA briefing which will cover headline figures of GVA per head and by industry sector and analyse figures relative to National averages and other comparator regions.
Effect of ICT Skills Gaps on UK Businesses
Findings released from the e-skills UK (the Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms) ICT Inquiry show that the percentage of firms reporting ICT (Information Communication Technology) skills gaps increased in Q1 of 2006 and the consequent impact of these gaps on UK businesses reached the highest level recorded in a year.
Value Added Scoreboard (Commentary and Analysis) - The Top 800 UK & 700 European Companies 2006
The fifth annul DTI Value Added Scoreboard contains details of the wealth created, measured as Value Added, by the top 700 European companies with a separate ranking of the top 800 UK companies. Value Added is measured as sales, profits, employee numbers, employment and depreciation costs, productivity and efficiency rations, market capitalisation, the six uses of Value Added and investment (R&D, Capex and GTFA). Click here to download Volume 1 and Volume 2.
UK Regional Trade in Goods Statistics - Qtr 3 2006
Regional export and import statistics for Qtr 3 2006 are available here.
Vital Signs 2005
Vital Signs assess a wealth of data from established sources to provide an annual 'State of the Region' picture of the region's performance, against a wide and comprehensive set of themes and indicators.
Household Income 1995 - 2004
Following the release from ONS of the new Household Income estimates last year the NWDA Research Team has produced a summary dataset for the Northwest region together with an overall summary.
PESA May 2006
Each year HM Treasury publishes the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA), which is a compendia of information about public expenditure outturns and plans. One chapter is devoted to the distribution of public spending between the regions and countries of the UK. The NWDA Research Team has produced a briefing which compares the Northwest allocation to other regions and gives a summary of trends for the Northwest in total spend and by broad programme.
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Forthcoming Data Releases
Here are a series of forthcoming data releases:
09 Feb 2007 - UK trade - Dec 2006 - First release, Office for National Statistics
12 Feb 2007 - House Price Index - Dec 2006 (experimental statistics) - Statistical bulletin, Department for Communities and Local Government
12 Feb 2007 - Economic and labour market review - Feb 2007 (Internet Only), Office for National Statistics
13 Feb 2007 - Consumer price indices - Jan 2007 - First release, Office for National Statistics
14 Feb 2007 - Labour market statistics : National and regional - Feb 2007 - First Release, Office for National Statistics
14 Feb 2007 - Monthly review of external trade statistics - Dec 2006 (Internet Only), Office for National Statistics
16 Feb 2007 - Economic and labour market review (vol 2) - Feb 2007 - Monthly volume, Office for National Statistics
20 Feb 2007 - Internet connectivity - Q4 2006 - First release, Office for National Statistics
21 Feb 2007 - Average weekly earnings - Dec 2006 (Internet only), Office for National Statistics
21 Feb 2007 - Index of labour costs per hour - Q4 2006 (Internet only), Office for National Statistics
22 Feb 2007 - Energy trends - December (Internet only), Department of Trade and Industry
22 Feb 2007 - 2006 UK electoral statistics - local government and parliamentary electors - News release, Office for National Statistics
22 Feb 2007 - Health statistics quarterly no 33 - Spring 2007 - News release, Office for National Statistics
22 Feb 2007 - Quarterly population estimates, England and Wales - Q4 2006 (Internet only), Office for National Statistics
26 Feb 2007 - Monthly digest of statistics - Feb 2007 - Monthly volume, Office for National Statistics
02 Mar 2007 - Output and employment in the construction industry - Q4 2006 - Statistical press notice, Department of Trade and Industry
08 Mar 2007 - Regional trade statistics - Q4 2006 (Internet only), HM Revenue and Customs
14 Mar 2007 - Public sector employment - Q4 2006 - First release, Office for National Statistics
15 Mar 2007 - Bus and light rail statistics - Oct-Dec 2006 - Statistical report, Department for Transport
29 Mar 2007 - Energy trends and quarterly energy prices - Q4 2006 (Internet only), Department of Trade and Industry
29 Mar 2007 - Productivity - Q4 2006 - First release, Office for National Statistics
NOMIS Release Dates
Feb 2007 - Annual Population Survey (Jul 2005 - Jun 2006)
14 Feb 2007 - Claimant Count - age and duration, seasonally adjusted, with rates and proportions (11 Jan 2007)
14 Feb 2007 - Department for Working Pensions (DWP) Benefits (Aug 2006)
14 Feb 2007 - Jobcentre Vacancies - notified by industry and occupation (5 Jan 2007)
14 Mar 2007 - Employee Job Estimates - seasonally adjusted and industry - unadjusted (Dec 2006)
14 Mar 2007 - Estimates of Workforce Jobs - unadjusted (Dec 2006)
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As part of our on-going aim to improve our communication with members we would like to invite network members to provide us with feedback, please email any comments and recommendations you may have to
nwriu@nwda.co.uk or call 01925 400291.
For full contact details of all team members please click
here.
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