Our research teams monitor the state of the West Midlands, progress of regional strategies and support partners in meeting their data and evidence needs. This includes coordinating the evidence base to support the Regional Skills Partnership's work.
Recent and ongoing research to support regional policy and strategy includes:
Measuring the scale of the challenge
Updated 6th July 2010
The headline focus of the West Midlands Economic Strategy, Connecting to Success, is closing the gap between the performance of the West Midlands economy and that of the UK as a whole. But how big is that gap? And what are the main things which influence it?
More about this project »
West Midlands economic strategy monitoring framework
Updated 28th May 2010
We developed a framework of headline and outcome indicators in 2007, in consultation with regional partners, to monitor progress of the West Midlands Economic Strategy. In May 2010, we published a 2010 annual update report (pdf, 1.95mb) updating the indicators and showing progress.
More about this project »
Analysis of sub-regional dynamics in the West Midlands
Published 23rd March 2010
We were commissioned to undertake a study into the evidence about relationships between places within the West Midlands. The aim of the work was to help us to understand sub-regional geographies within the West Midlands, based on functional relationships. The research will assist development of Local Economic Assessments and contribute to the evidence base for the new Strategy for the West Midlands.
More about this project »
State of the Region Report 2009
Published 20th October 2009
This report brings together some of the key evidence from the State of the Region dialogues with a range of other information about the major issues facing the West Midlands. We link the themes to wider developments influencing regional policy and strategy.
We provide Excel datasets of indicators and the data can be explored in interactive maps.
More about this project »
State of the region dialogues
Ongoing 2009-2010
We aim to make the evidence we produce even more relevant to policy makers' needs. By coordinating 'thematic dialogues' between decision makers and researchers, we also aim to strengthen the way in which evidence is used to inform policy.
More about this project »
Delivering a sustainable transport system
Launched June 2009
The Department for Transport launched the ‘Delivering a Sustainable Transport System’ (DASTS) project in 2008. The West Midlands Regional Transport Partnership developed a programme of work for the West Midlands. To support this, the Observatory created a DASTS evidence base in our Resource Catalogue.
More about this project »
Integrated policy modelling
We developed an economic model for use by regional and sub-regional partners to improve the quality of analysis of regional policies. The model will support planning and policy evaluation, impact analysis, and enable investigation of potential changes in the future economic structure of the West Midlands.
More about this project »