E-briefing 24 - April 2008
E-briefing Issue 24: April 2008
Editorial
Hello, and welcome to the April 2008 edition of the Regional Intelligence Unit’s (RIU) e-briefing. 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 RIU, latest additions to the Extranet and data release dates for the coming months.
The re-designed RIU Extranet site was launched almost a year ago and the Electronic Mapping Utility (EMU) has been available for approximately 6 months. In the last edition of the e-briefing we asked our users' for their opinion on both the re-designed site and the EMU tool. We have analysed the responses and the results are as follows:-
- The site is mainly used to keep people up to date with the latest information, it is also used widely used to search for data and to prepare reports/briefings.
- Generally members felt that the site looks very good, the ease of use was good, the presentation and layout was very good, the content and usefulness was very good and the over quality of the site was good.
- Responses showed that the Economic Intelligence, Strategic Intelligence, What’s New and News sections were useful areas of the site with the Office for National Statistics Northwest Team page being the most popular section receiving ratings of excellent. The data release calendar and regional compendia were considered to be not as useful.
- The majority of members only access the Extranet when prompted by a RIU e-mail.
- The site meets the majority of members expectations.
We strive to keep the Extranet as up to date as possible but if you identify any problems with the site such as broken links, out of date data or if anything is not disseminated through the site please forward details to nwriu@nwda.co.uk
Kind Regards
Vanessa Smallman, Editor
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NWDA Research Team Update
Research Panel - The research programme has been designed to provide a robust evidence base to begin the development of the Single Regional Strategy. As part of this process work was undertaken to identify the gaps and to provide direction on the intelligence needed to improve future decision making. The evidence gathering is designed to move us forward over the next 12 months, and to be a live programme reviewed on a regular basis which will give strategic direction for the next 3 years. It is split into the five themed chapters; Business, Skills & Education, People and Jobs, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. By setting the programme out in this manner it is easier to focus attention on key areas of productivity to ensure we achieve our objective of high and stable growth.
The following provides a summary of published outputs and progress so far:-
Northwest Skills & Productivity
It is commonly assumed that workforce skills are a primary determinant of economic performance at all levels of UK geography. At regional level, however, the evidence base is less robust than one might imagine. The Skills and Productivity research project is intended to extend the breadth of evidence by addressing a number of key issues in this arena. The evidence in this report is organised around five specific questions:
- Is it possible to isolate the contributions of sector, occupation, productivity and skills to North West economic performance?
- What quantitative evidence exists to directly link skills and productivity performance within firms and what are the potential implications of upgrading skills in the North West for productivity and economic performance?
- What quantitative evidence exists to indirectly link skills and productivity performance within firms and what are the potential implications of upgrading skills in the North West for productivity and economic performance?
- Will anticipated employment change within the region continue to require upgrading in skills?
- Are skills progression patterns adequate to (a) sustain future NW employer needs (b) achieve Leitch targets within the North West?
The final report was published in April 2008.
European Benchmarking for the Northwest
The purpose of this project is to examine the performance of the North West economy and its sub-regions in a European context. The key aims are to:
- provide an assessment of the economic performance of the North West and its five sub-regions, including comparisons with suitable regional economies across Europe
- explain why growth rates in the North West have been better/worse than elsewhere
- identify what lessons can be learned from European comparator areas
- provide an assessment of the opportunities and threats posed by the wider global economy
This project is focused on providing an evidence-base on economic growth in the North West and other European regions/sub regions. It is not concerned with commenting on or assessing economic development policy in the North West or any of its sub regions. Rather, the focus is on identifying performance drivers and policy priorities in comparable areas across Europe, and using these to inform development in the North West.
Outputs
European Benchmarking Final Report
Annex A - Identifying Benchmarks in Europe
Annex B - Exploring Benchmarks for the Northwest
Annex C - Exploring Benchmarks for the Sub-Regions
Demographics, Migration & Diversity
In 2007 the Regional Strategy Team identified a need for better information on Demographics. Experian were commissioned in October 2007 to undertake a project with the aim to build a detailed and up-to-date picture of the trends, drivers and implications of demographic change, migration and diversity in the Northwest to directly inform the policy response.
The project has delivered two working papers, Demographic Trends and the Drivers of Change together with the final report and a dataset underpinning the project. A workshop was also held in December 2007 which allowed regional partners to discuss key challenges and opportunities and ways in which regional policy makers should respond.
The project has identified five emerging trends in the demography of the Northwest together with the challenges & opportunities each trend presents and the strategic actions policy makers should take to respond. Outputs were published in March 2008.
Aim: To gain a better understanding of the change in the characteristics of the population and the implications this has on the region.
Business Start-Ups
High levels of business start-ups within a region signify economic prosperity. The greater the business stock the greater the opportunities, productivity and investment within the region leading to a better quality of life for everyone. The region tends to have less owner-managed businesses, partly due to the historic dominance of large manufacturing companies. Because of this it is important as a region we encourage people to start businesses including the under-performing groups of the region:
- Women, BME communities, Disabled Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprise
This study will identify the overall level of business start-ups in the region, their survivability and attitudes towards business support in the region.
Aim: Identify firm formation rate in the region broken down by the under-performing groups of the region as well as their survival rates and attitudes to business support.
Outputs published in April 2008
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) in conjunction with London Business School
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research program is an annual assessment of the national level of entrepreneurial activity. The NWDA has been part of the GEM consortium for two years and relies on this data as an authoritative study into the Total Early stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) in the NW. The survey identifies challenges and barriers, attitudes and TEA by under-represented groups. A key area of the Agency’s focus and the current RES, it acts as a valuable monitoring tool in measuring entrepreneurial intentions in the NW.
The 2007 Northwest report has been published. The presentation from the dissemination event showing the key findings to the Northwest region is available.
Outputs from the 2006 GEM Survey are listed below
North West Summary
North West Full Report
UK Report
Aim: To understand the level of entrepreneurial activity within the region, attitudes by particular groups and constraints.
Northwest ICT Adoption, Usage and Impact Survey
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly recognised as a major driver of productivity growth. The extent to which the Northwest’s businesses adopt and exploit ICT effectively is – and will continue to be – a fundamental determinant of the region’s economic performance. In recognition of this the NWDA research team recently commissioned SQW consulting in conjunction with GfK NOP to perform a survey and report of 2,000 Northwest based businesses, and 200 ICT specific businesses to gain insight into levels of ICT adoption, usage and impact.
Aim: Identify the level of broadband take-up amongst businesses within the region and whether they are maximising this to its full potential.
Foresighting
This study will be to produce a series of research papers or think pieces, looking at key areas of the RES and future policy development to stimulate debate and understanding of these issues to enhance the production of economic policy for the NWDA and Region.
There is a need to “future proof” regional economic policy and to ensure full awareness, and the ability to, respond to national policy and the implications for regional policy. Although the evidence base for the current RES is strong, there is now the need to develop beyond the where we are now, to what could we be in the future.
Outputs published in March 2008:-
Slides used in scenario evaluation and topic consultation workshops
Project Paper
The Delphi Process
Rural Economy
Visitor Economy
Enterprise
Productivity
ICT
Energy
Skills Demand and Skills Investment
Sustainable Communities
Demography
Aim: To “future proof” regional economic policy and broaden the understanding of topic areas and challenge/improve policy development.
Workforce Development
Workforce development is critical to the productivity, innovation and profitability of a business and the regional economy overall. However, it must be recognised that workforce development is not exclusive to purely skill enhancements. It is widely recognised that good employment relation practices are essential to promoting fairness at work and that those organisations choosing to embrace good practice are much more likely to be successful organisations. A combination of employers enhancing skills development as well as offering good employment relations will play a significant role in improving the productivity of the business.
Aim: Main requirements include:-
- To provide a cost benefit analysis that will clearly measure the impact of any investment made in Workforce Development and providing good employment relations
- To measure the impact of this development on a businesses profitability
- To measure the impact of this on the productivity of the region
- The analysis must evaluate size and sectoral differences, age, gender and ethnicity
- To understand the barriers behind those employers who do not engage in workforce development
- To understand how the growth of SMEs, in particular, is limited by lack of appropriately skilled people
- To harness the views of employers, as to whether those engaged in workforce development, expectations are being met and if not, why not?
The final report is expected by the end of May 2008.
Export Research
Full year export figures for 2006 in the Northwest show that total exports were valued at £23,705 million which was an increase of £4,398 million compared with 2005. This now represents 14% of England’s total export value and 10% of the UK’s. However, the number of exporters in the Northwest decreased from 7,148 to 7,130 during the same period. Such a significant shift in one year demonstrates that the price of the pound has bigger impacts on our region than other UK regions i.e. our vulnerability to shifts in exchange rates. To gain a better understanding of this variable on the region’s GVA we need to understand what lies behind this. The Initial Briefing has been published in April 2008 and the final report is expected during May 2008.
Aim: Explore the vulnerability of the Northwest with regard to export value and the price of the pound. Particular focus needs to be placed on the percentage of exports accounted for by the top 100 exporters.
Re-engaging with the Land – Our Most Precious Asset
In recent years, true commercial profits have been hard to find in agriculture. Food, particularly food from Britain is undervalued in our own society. The impact of global choice and competition means that self sufficiency in the UK continues to decline. Paradoxically, many parts of the world continue to suffer famine.
This study will undertake a modelling exercise examining the scenarios for land utilisation now and in the future. In particular it will assess the capability and capacity of the region for planting non-food based crops such as those for cosmetics (e.g. lavender etc.) and those for fuel (e.g. miscanthus) especially in terms of geology, climate, land and existing agriculture. The final report is expected by the end of May 2008.
Aim: To undertake a modelling exercise to examine the scenarios for land utilisation now and in the future.
Business Relocation
Businesses provide the backbone of the economy generating wealth and employing people. The NW is home to 240,000 businesses employing nearly 3 million people generating an economy worth £106 billion.
Promoting enterprise within the NW is integral to ensuring it prospers. The more businesses within a region the more employment opportunities exist stimulating investment and empowering the region to become more productive and ultimately better off.
It is of paramount importance that as a region we provide the entrepreneurial climate from which businesses can survive and thrive. It is important as an economic development agency we understand why businesses are attracted to the region and why some businesses decide to relocate outside of the region. The final report is expected by the end of May 2008.
Aim: To understand the motivations behind businesses moving in and out and within the region.
Pocket Databank
The pocket databank is a Northwest regional profile consisting of regional, sub-regional and local authority statistics. Drawing on key economic indicators the databank is an invaluable source of information from which we are able to assess the performance of business, productivity and labour market statistics. An updated version is due to be published in May 2008.
Other NWDA Research Team activities include:-
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 second short-term business forecast looking at the prospect of economic growth in the region over the next three years were published during December.
Please click here to access the Panel's previous reports.
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Latest Additions to the RIU Extranet
RIU Event - 21 and 22 April 2008
The Regional Intelligence Unit is holding the Northwest Research Conference to be held on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd April 2008 at the Manchester Conference Centre. The purpose of the event is to communicate the findings of recent projects funded by the NWDA Research Team and to provide guidance on regional and local data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Presentations and sessions on the first day will follow a Business and Skills theme whilst day two will be focused on People and Places. The event will take place from 10am to 3.30pm on both days and delegates will be able to sign up for sessions of interest. Delegates can attend one or both days of the conference and will be asked to register for sessions of interest.
Places to the event and to individual sessions are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To find out more information and secure your place at the event please register at
www.nwda.co.uk/researchconference Budget 2008
The Chancellor made his Budget speech to the House of Commons on 12 March 2008. The NWDA Research Team has compiled a
Budget Briefing which contains concise headlines from the Budget Statement presented within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.
Documents release by
HM Treasury are also available.
CommuterView
The Office for National Statistics has released CommuterView (Visualisation of UK Commuting Patterns). More information is available at www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/bulletins/bulletin2008_02.asp
The National Statistics (NS) Geography bulletins are designed to keep you up-to-date with developments in UK Geography. The most recent bulletins can be found here at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/bulletin_main.asp
Highest Qualifications for Ages 19-59/64
These data tables are based on the Annual Population Survey (APS) Jan-Dec 2006.
A new table has been added showing the highest qualification level of the population aged 19-59/64 (males aged 19-64 and females aged 19-59). This is the population being used for the new indicators of attainment at local level. At the moment there is only a run of three years of data in this table. This will be extended to at least four as time permits.
Figures relate to levels of highest qualification held, the relationship between qualification level and rate of employment of those aged 16-59/64, participation in job related training by employees and the proportion of adults who participate in any form of learning. Figures are also included on the highest qualification held by economically active adults (the group targeted by one of DIUS's adult skills PSA targets). Figures are for England and are disaggregated into Government Office Regions (GOR), Local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) office areas, Learning Partnership (LP), Local Education Authority (LEA) and Local Authority District (LAD) geographies.
Enterprising Britain Competition 2008
Enterprising Britain is a nationwide competition to find the most enterprising place in the UK - a location where enterprise has helped transform a community and led to improved economic prospects for the area.
The competition is now in its fourth year and is a key part of the Government’s drive to increase rates of entrepreneurial activity in the UK. Enterprising Britain is free to enter and is open to all places (in the UK) such as a town, a city, a parish or neighbourhood that can demonstrate how they have transformed the community through enterprise in the last two years.
This may be anything from a town that has introduced specific ways to increase employment in the area, to an individual project, which has introduced an innovative enterprise strategy to overcome a particular local challenge.
All entrants must be able to demonstrate that enterprise is central to the economic and or social transformation of the area. The competition is not open to individual entrepreneurs or to businesses.
The North West Development Agency will award the Regional Winner a prize of £50,000 to be spent on furthering the Enterprise Agenda of the initiative/project entered into the competition. In addition, NWDA will support the entry and back the regional Winner through to the National Competition.
An Entry form and leaflet along with some guidance notes are available.
Closing date for regional competition entries is Friday 2nd May 2008.
Further information about Enterprising Britain 2008 can be found at: http://www.enterprisingbritain.org.uk/
The Northern Connection
'The Northern Connection', produced by a team bringing together the Institute for Political and Economic Governance and the Centre for Urban Policy Studies at the University of Manchester, offers important new insights into the economic links between cities and regions and about the continuing and increasing importance of the key urban centres in driving growth and development.
The main report summarises the results of a research programme commissioned in 2007 by the Northern Way. It presents selective, headline findings from the programme, full details of which are available in the three thematic reports.
It then looks at the fit between the study findings and the emerging policy agenda and the implications that follow for the Northern Way and its principal stakeholders.
Regional Trade Statistics Qtr 4 2007
Regional export and import statistics for Qtr 4 2007.
Value Impact Assessment of Tatton Park
This report presents the findings of SQW’s assessment of the value and impact of Tatton Park, Cheshire. The study was commissioned by Cheshire County Council in June 2006, with the following principal objectives:
- To assess the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of Tatton Park on the local and regional economy
- To develop a transferable model to measure the value and impact of partner gardens, and in particular for use by members of the European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN)
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Forthcoming Data Releases
The RIU has produced a calendar containing summaries of important data releases due out over the next two months. Here is the latest data release calendar.
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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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