Green Growth
Dec 5 2022
Partnership looks at seawater’s potential to power ceramic production
New research is looking to the coast to explore ways to generate sustainable hydrogen supplies to power up the UK’s ceramics sector.
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Observatory
Latest data and research for our region
The Midlands Engine Observatory is an alliance of leading academic researchers and economic and industry experts, working together to deliver the regionally focused research and analysis our partners need to inform decision making and policy creation, for every part of the Midlands.
The only pan-regional Observatory in England, it ensures that we are evidence led and that we have a deep understanding of the issues impacting the Midlands.
The Observatory is funded by the Midlands Engine and our partners – in particular, our academic partners who co-invest in all the research we produce together. Experts are drawn from the Midlands’ own universities, partner institutions and private sector organisations, maximising the vast knowledge potential of our region.
Work is overseen and guided by a Programme Board, which in turn reports to the Operating Board of the Midlands Engine, ensuring partnership decision-making is underpinned by contemporary data and emerging evidence. The work of our Observatory continues to grow in breadth and significance; a critical driver of the pan-regional work we undertake, together.
Latest data and research
The Observatory publishes data and intelligence for the benefit of policymakers across our region, designed to ensure our partnership is kept fully iformed with a growing, robust evidence base.
Read the latest reports from the Observatory
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Covid Report – From Pandemic to Endemic
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West Burton Fusion Factsheet Midlands Engine Observatory July 2022
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Nuclear Factsheet
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Food and Drink Supply Chain
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Manufacturing Factsheet
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SMEs Factsheet
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Global & Investment Factsheet
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Key Facts, Strengths & Barriers to Growth
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Economic Growth and Gender Bias
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Advanced ceramics – an industry of the future
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Driving Inward Investment Insights
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Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub
Instant access to contemporary data and insights
The Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub provides a single, interactive portal for a wealth of up-to-the-minute pan-regional data, research and expert insights. This unique tool can help to inform decision-making around key investments and policy formulation for economic and social benefit in the Midlands.
Key features of the Intelligence Hub include: new live and interactive data and power BI dashboards, spatial visualisations, intelligence briefings, insight pieces from regional experts, and commissioned deep-dive research.
Observatory Action Plan
The Midlands Engine Observatory Action Plan sets out our collective actions and aims to support our region through data, research, and insight.
As we work towards delivering the Levelling Up agenda, reliable metrics and insight become more important than ever. The Plan gives us the goals and direction we need as a region to understand Midlands-specific challenges and opportunities in terms of economic growth, to quantify our impact in collaboration and to inform advocacy for further investment where it’s needed most.
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State of the Region Report 2021
Identifying the impact of Covid-19 and EU Exit on our region
For the first time, the State of the Region report is available online as part of a dedicated microsite. Here, users can engage with the data supporting the report presented in a suite of PowerBi dashboards, interactive maps, intelligence briefings and in-depth analysis.
Midlands Engine Research Partnership
The Midlands Engine Research Partnership provides a forum for universities from across the Midlands to scope areas of research needed by the Midlands Engine, steer research, collaborate, secure external funding for projects and contribute to key policy reviews and strategy formulation for the Midlands Engine.
Midlands Engine Intelligence Community
The Midlands Engine Intelligence Community (MEIC) is a forum for our valued partners to discuss and contribute to the work of the Observatory, hear updates on key research activities and share data and best practice.
If you are a data owner or engage with research and intelligence linked to any aspect of the Midlands economy, we would welcome your input to help shape the work of the Observatory and accelerate our work to grow our regional economy.
Latest News
Transport
Dec 5 2022
Midlands Rail Hub: More rail services for region as part of upgrade package dubbed ‘biggest step possible in levelling-up the Midlands’
Faster and more frequent train services are on the cards for up to forty-three communities, towns and cities throughout the region as part of a massive package of improvements to transform east-west connections in the Midlands.
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Transport
Nov 29 2022
Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham rail link dubbed ‘levelling up’ by firms
Local businesses employing over 32,000 workers across the region have given a seal of approval for proposed improvements to the Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham rail route.
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