Business resilience and the budget

The 2020s are already shaping up to be a decade we won’t forget and we’re barely three months in. Coming on the back of a decade when researchers and policy makers have been focused on the post-financial crisis productivity puzzle, the impact on the global economy from the Covid-19 pandemic brings new challenges and uncertainties…. Read more

Protecting our pies and pasties post-Brexit

What do Cornish Pasties and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies have in common? Well, neither appeal to vegetarians for sure but they share more than their meaty ingredients. Both are also protected food names covered by European legislation on Geographical Indications of Origin (or GIs). This means that just as Champagne can currently only be produced… Read more

Northern Powerhouse Growth Dashboard press coverage

BBC News: New ‘east-west divide’ splitting north start-up economy Yorkshire Times: East-West divide sees Manchester pull ahead in Northern Powerhouse Enterprise Race  Northern Echo here: East – West divide sees Manchester pull ahead in Northern Powerhouse Enterprise Race Business Insider: East /West divide emerges in Northern Powerhouse Research              … Read more

November & December 2019 Press Coverage

Financial Times Special Report – the UK’s Entrepreneurs Belfast Telegraph Why Investment can begin at home   Financial Times Scale-ups prioritised in productivity drive  Financial Times Tees Valley steels itself for recovery with start-up funds Financial Times UK political parties urged to focus on champions of prosperity                    … Read more

October 2019 Press Coverage

This is Wiltshire Brexit uncertainty blamed as number of new Swindon start-ups plummets Swindon Advertiser Brexit uncertainty blamed as number of new Swindon start-ups plummets  Business News Wales Start-ups Slump as Entrepreneurs Brace for Brexit The Scotsman Deals are being made across Scotland at a healthy rate despite economic uncertainty Express and Star (Wolverhampton)Business Saving… Read more

The time has come to sharpen the focus on productivity

Raising productivity is often cited as one of the UK’s most important economic challenges. On the surface of it, improving productivity sounds like a pretty straightforward idea to grasp. It’s about economies, workplaces and people being more efficient, increasing the volume of goods created in relation to the inputs used to produce them. But in… Read more

September 2019 Press Coverage

Express and Star (West Midlands) Number of business start-ups in the region slump Northern Echo Brexit uncertainty to blame for slowdown in new firm creation Financial Times Start-ups are scaling up despite Brexit jitters Business Matters Start-ups slump as entrepreneurs wait for Brexit certainty Financial Times Brexit blamed for sharp fall in number of new… Read more

Business, Growth and Productivity workshop

On September 23rd ERC headed to Glasgow to run a workshop on all things small business, growth and productivity. The day was coordinated by Scottish Enterprise and brought in key agencies and partners in Scotland with a stake in the performance of the small business community and those who support it directly through policy delivery,… Read more