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1 – 10 of over 4000Focuses on exploring the extent and patterns of innovation in the West Midlands region, based primarily on data generated by the Price Waterhouse West Midlands Business Survey, a…
Abstract
Focuses on exploring the extent and patterns of innovation in the West Midlands region, based primarily on data generated by the Price Waterhouse West Midlands Business Survey, a bi‐annual survey of around 1,000 businesses. Explores regional development and innovation within a framework developed by Camagni, which focuses on agglomeration economies and the creation of an innovative milieu within a regional economy. Suggests two methods to encourage innovation within the UK’s West Midlands region through support to associated expenditures (training and exporting). In the context of a rising currency the research suggests that innovating firms have a strategy to overcome adverse currency movements.
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Ivana Adamson and H.R. Seddighi
This study provides an analysis of two regional samples on R&D activities in manufacturing small and medium‐size firms in the UK. The results show that there are statistically…
Abstract
This study provides an analysis of two regional samples on R&D activities in manufacturing small and medium‐size firms in the UK. The results show that there are statistically significant regional differences between the North East and the West Midlands (χr2 of 11.8 s.s. at p < .01), where the North East SMEs seem to engage less in R&D activities. The results may be of some interest to the relevant R&D funding bodies.
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The West Midlands region has been poorly represented in national media and especially in fictional media forms. The Archers is therefore a very important part of representation of…
Abstract
The West Midlands region has been poorly represented in national media and especially in fictional media forms. The Archers is therefore a very important part of representation of the region to the nation. These two representational elements — regional and national culture — are part of the BBC’s duties under the Royal Charter. As such, they form a core obligation for the BBC. For many years arguments have raged over whether Ambridge is located in Worcestershire or Warwickshire. This is, of course, largely a matter of interest within the region, but does have some wider implications about narrative fiction. Whilst, in one sense Ambridge and Borsetshire are purely fictional, they simultaneously have a potential impact on the national image of the West Midlands and especially its rural areas. This chapter will consider both reasons to suggest that The Archers is specifically drawn from the county of Worcestershire and issues of identity formation that may arise from the representations offered by The Archers of the county and the West Midlands region.
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Tony Ryan and Mark Rayne
Successive government policies over the past 15 years have encouraged the growth of the independent sector (not for profit and for profit) and its involvement in the delivery of…
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Successive government policies over the past 15 years have encouraged the growth of the independent sector (not for profit and for profit) and its involvement in the delivery of mental health care. Not for profit and for profit sectors are currently working both alongside and in competition with NHS provider organisations. How all parts of the service system interconnect will in future be crucial for service users and carers. This paper describes the developmental approach in response to many of these issues by agencies in the West Midlands.
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Between 1963 and 1971 the number of places available at Government Training Centres (GTCs) increased by over 400 per cent, so that by 1971 there were 52 centres with 11,000 places…
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Between 1963 and 1971 the number of places available at Government Training Centres (GTCs) increased by over 400 per cent, so that by 1971 there were 52 centres with 11,000 places capable of retraining about 20,000 persons annually. Early in 1972 the Conservative Government announced plans for a further large expansion in the manpower training and retraining programme. The long term aim of that government was to provide retraining opportunities for about 100,000 annually, but as an interim measure it hoped to provide such opportunities for 60–70,000 people by 1975. The government intended that about half of these opportunities—i.e. 30,000—would be catered for by the GTCs, of which there would be 64 by 1975, with a total of 17,000 training places.
Brendan Clifford, Sandra Squires and Jenny Layton Wood
To share a case study of a service improvement review of practice and ambition for Health and Wellbeing Boards in the English West Midlands in the changing context of Integrated…
Abstract
Purpose
To share a case study of a service improvement review of practice and ambition for Health and Wellbeing Boards in the English West Midlands in the changing context of Integrated Care Systems.
Design/methodology/approach
Mixed qualitative methods: 33 semi-structured interviews with senior care and health leaders; a computer-based self-assessment tool for Health and Wellbeing Boards; and desktop analysis of Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies.
Findings
“Place-based partnership” is a motivating concept, embracing the agency of leaders in pursuing local strategies and solutions. The need for strong leadership was recognised. The opportunity for Integrated Care Systems to contribute to narrowing health inequalities was welcomed by building on local place-based models, maximising council expertise in managing population health and wellbeing in their areas.
Research limitations/implications
The case study is a snapshot of a developing area at a time when further government guidance for Integrated Care Systems was pending. More specific analysis of place-based partnerships in the West Midlands in the context of Health and Wellbeing Boards and Integrated Care Systems would seem beneficial. In addition, further research of subsequent changes such as the Hewitt Review is also considered important.
Practical implications
The review shows the assertion of “place” as a unifying concept for Health and Wellbeing Boards and Integrated Care Systems. It suggests closer involvement of leaders in children's services with local Health and Wellbeing Boards is needed.
Social implications
Health and Wellbeing Boards and Integrated Care Partnerships share common aims of improving the health and wellbeing of local populations. Maximising integration especially on preventative approaches and fully engaging communities in health would have positive social impact.
Originality/value
The case study adds to the relatively less well-developed literature on Health and Wellbeing Boards and their link with Integrated Care Partnerships.
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Susan Hamilton, Richard Wilson and Andrew Butcher
The debate on reorganisation of hospital services is fertile ground for expert opinion. The Joint Consultants Committee (JCC) have produced the most recent view on the ideal acute…
Abstract
The debate on reorganisation of hospital services is fertile ground for expert opinion. The Joint Consultants Committee (JCC) have produced the most recent view on the ideal acute hospital size and consultant staffing; however, their ideal is far removed from reality. A survey of trusts across the West Midlands found that many are falling short of the recommendations, such as meeting a one‐in‐five consultant on‐call rota for the major admitting specialties and providing adequate cover in the core sub‐specialties of general medicine and general surgery. While the JCC recommendations give a welcome direction and focus to workforce planning, reaching some of these will require a large financial investment and an increase in the number of trainees. Prioritising the recommendations may help to facilitate implementation by health‐care providers.
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Andrew C. Worthington and Helen Higgs
This paper examines the short and long‐term comovements among UK regional property markets over the period 1976‐2001. The markets examined are London, Outer South East, East…
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This paper examines the short and long‐term comovements among UK regional property markets over the period 1976‐2001. The markets examined are London, Outer South East, East Anglia, South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, North and North West. Multivariate cointegration procedures, Granger non‐causality tests, level VAR and generalised variance decomposition analyses based on error‐correction and vector autoregressive models are conducted to analyse relationships among these markets. The results indicate that there is a stationary, long‐term relationship and a number of long‐term causal linkages between the various UK property markets. In terms of the percentage of variance explained, other regional markets are generally more important than innovations in a given region, though this is not the case for the Outer South East. The Outer South East market is segmented from the other regional markets, though also extremely influential in explaining forecast variance in these markets. The overall suggestion is that opportunities exist for portfolio diversification in the UK regional property market, and the Outer South East market should be seen as containing valuable information for forecasting performance in the regional markets.
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Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, Tom Fowler, Karen Saunders and Sam Ramaiah
Health inequalities exist between ethnic groups, an important example of this being infant mortality with babies of mothers born in Pakistan having double and babies of mothers…
Abstract
Health inequalities exist between ethnic groups, an important example of this being infant mortality with babies of mothers born in Pakistan having double and babies of mothers born in the Caribbean having 63% higher rates than the national average. West Midlands Ethnic Minority Liaison Committee (WELCOME) and partners organised a conference to arrive at consensus among experts and stakeholders and to make recommendations around reducing infant mortality. One key area discussed, which is often contentious, was cousin marriage: its potential impact on infant and perinatal mortality and what health service response to this should be. Recommendations included: the setting up of a community genetic service in areas with higher risk of recessive disorders as a consequence of cousin marriage; genetic education to the wider public and health professionals; and community engagement, including community and religious leaders. This paper outlines how these recommendations were arrived at, the potential barriers identified in addressing this issue and the process by which service change was achieved with an aim to improve the outcome of infant and perinatal health among groups with higher burdens of genetic disorders in Walsall.
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That the total number of retail outlets in the UK is declining is not news. But what sort of retailers are disappearing? And in which parts of the country? David Kirby indicates…
Abstract
That the total number of retail outlets in the UK is declining is not news. But what sort of retailers are disappearing? And in which parts of the country? David Kirby indicates that, surprisingly, not only the number of independents has declined, but also the number of multiple outlets, though naturally this is offset by a concentration of trade in larger multiple stores. The greatest contraction occurred amongst co‐operative shops.