News

Find out what TBR has been up to, what projects TBR is involved in and any relevant economic development news.

Project News

LEP Network

TBR with Shared Intelligence were commissioned by The LEP Network to update and refresh the LEP Network Annual Benchmark Report. TBR’s deep understanding of data sources and data outputs helped to produce an accessible report and data appendices that use a range of data sources covering entrepreneurship, place & property and skills. The work utilised a range of data sources from the government and our own TCR database. The report will is available on the LEP Network website: http://www.lepnetwork.org.uk/research.html

For more information, please contact Jonathan Guest on 0191 279 0909.

Creative Skillset UK

TBR and Olsberg SPI were commissioned by Creative Skillset UK in 2013 to perform some further work on the forecasting model that the team has produced. The model uses historic data on the creative industries to provide forecasts to 2022 of employment and GVA by different variables. Scenarios are also provided, which are based on consultations with key industry leaders. Two reports have been commissioned, the first is an internal document which summarises the key findings and rich insights from the consultation stage, and the second is an externally facing report which is based on the quantitative outputs of the model.

For more information, please contact Andrew License on 0191 279 0900

Royal Academy of Engineering.

TBR is delighted to be working with the Royal Academy of Engineering to explore and consider why women and those from minority ethnic groups appear to drop out of the engineering profession. The project also involves three professional engineering institutions; the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. By analysing membership statistics and speaking to people whose professional membership has lapsed, it is hoped to generate insights into why proportionally more women and ethnic minorities choose to leave the profession. The results will be used to develop actions to retain these core workers in the profession.

For more information, please contact Amy Farrelly or Martin Houghton (0191 279 0900).

New property regulation impact assessement published

TBR has recently completed a detailed impact assessment of proposed changes to regulations in the residential property market. RICS has today (5th February) released press statements and have covered the research on their website here. The research indicates that the compulsory regulation of lettings agents, combined with the introduction of professional standards for all sales and agents could generate over £20million of benefits per year to the UK economy. To find out more, contact Andrew Graves.

You can read more about it in the news on the links below :

CASE to update Local Profile and Local Culture & Heritage Profile Tools

TBR has been commissioned by the Culture and Sport Evidence (CASE) programme to update the Local Sport and Local Culture & Heritage Profile tools. The profiles enable users to select a local authority or LEP area of interest and a range of data on demographics, sport, arts, museums and heritage participation and facilities for that area in the form of tables and charts. The profile also includes comparative data for the local authority area to its nearest neighbours and number of user selected comparator areas.

Please email A ndrew License to find out more or call 0191 279 0900.

Mapping Heritage Craft - report launched

We're very pleased to announce that our high profile report mapping the economic and wider contribution of the Heritage Craft sector was launched on the 21st November at a reception in London. Commissioned by BIS and managed by our good friends at Creative and Cultural Skills, this report puts Heritage Craft on the economic map for the first time.

This sector has been under-examined in the past - because it is hard to define and hard to research. It's an excellent exmaple of how TBR can achieve robust research outputs in these circumstances.

It is also a good example of how TBR has helped a sector to create evidence-based arguments around impact and importance. But for a sector like this, these arguments needs to step beyond the usual quantitative measures such as employment and GVA (as important as they are). It is crucial to also demonstrate how this sector is fundamental to the continuing development and preservation of skills, practices, products and services which are integral to the fabric of our culture and society. We hope this report achieves that goal.

To download the report, go to http://creative-blueprint.co.uk/library/item/mapping-heritage-craft

LEPs - Key Performance Indicators and High Growth Businesses

TBR is working closely with a number of LEPs to provide detailed evidence bases to enhance local growth opportunities. Coventry and Warwickshire LEP has appointed TBR to investigate the development of a model to help categorise firms by their growth potential. The project will develop a model which can be used to help support the client and partners to prioritise resources in supporting businesses, and to design and implement support programmes which are appropriate to target businesses. This project will use TBR’s extensive knowledge and understanding of the growth agenda and the debate around the importance of, and approaches to identifying, high growth firms.

If you have any questions please contact martin.houghton@tbr.co.uk or alternatively to one of the team on 0191 279 0900.

Arts Council Cultural Education Tool

TBR have produced a tool for the Arts Council which enables the Arts Council’s new Bridge organisations and other partners to download a concise but detailed cultural education profile for any local authority area in England. The user is able to select a local authority areas of interest and a range of data on demographics, education, arts, museums and libraries participation and facilities for children and young people will be provided for that area in the form of tables and charts. The profile also includes comparisons of the local authority area to its nearest neighbours.

View it here.

If you have questions regarding the tool please contact Fiona Dodd or 0191 279 0900.

Click here to read our past news stories

Product News

Helping local authorities understand the impact of conversion of office accommodation to residential

A recent announcement by government has indicated their intention to allow the conversion of office accommodation to residential within permitted development rights - meaning that planning permission will not be needed. For some areas, this may be exciting news but for others it may represent a huge threat to their local economies. TBR is working with clients to deliver evidence of the likely impact that these changes will have, in order to support applications for exemption where the evidence suggests significant detriment. To find out more, contact Andrew Graves - hurry, the window for exemption applications is shutting fast!

High Growth Businesses, Business Migration and Key Performance Indicators.

TBR have produced a range of useful Local Authority and LEP data outputs connected to high growth businesses, business migration and key performance indicators which add value to local economic development work. These analyses use TCR to provide up to date and detailed data which can show how Local Authorities or LEP areas are performing. Martin Houghton has been in contact with many LEPs and Local Authorities recently, but if you'd like to see our research on high growth businesses, business migration and/or key performance indicators, please contact Martin Houghton or one of the team on 0191 279 0900.

Local Economic Insight Suite (LEIS) Launched

TBR continues to develop its reputation for adding insight to local economic evidence. From our research experience we have developed a Local Economic Insight Suite that provides robust, bespoke solutions to research problems. Click here to learn more.

FUTURE SPACE Launched

TBR unveils groundbreaking employment land use model - FUTURE SPACE. The FUTURE SPACE model delivers unique insight into the optimal development of employment land in local economies through detailed, bottom-up analysis of current and future demand and supply. Click here to find out how FUTURE SPACE can help you.

TBR's Night Time Economy receives global and national coverage

What's controversial, diverse and worth £66bn to UK plc? That's right, the night time economy. Our analysis, undertaken with our partner MAKE Associates, has been covered in press across the country and TBR have subsequently completed work in Sydney, Australia. A case-study summary can be downloaded. Click here to download it

This work was commissioned by the Council as part of its "OPEN Sydney ; future directions for Sydney at Night" and the Lord Mayor introduced our report as "The first of its kind ever commissioned in Australia" and commended its findings to the Round Table Stakeholders. If you have any questions please contact terry.bevan@tbr.co.uk or 07970717159 or alternatively speak to Andrew License on 0191 279 0911.

General news

TBR welcomes Amy Farrelly

TBR welcomes new team member Amy Farrelly to the team. Her skills, experience and knowledge across the economic development and planning agenda will complement our existing team and add value to our current service offer.

TBR in the South East

TBR's main offices are in Newcastle Upon Tyne and the team retains a presence in the South East of England and London through Terry Bevan and Martin Houghton. To contact either of them please contact them usng the following details:

Martin: martin.houghton@tbr.co.uk
or 0790 00 88 405

Terry: terry.bevan@tbr.co.uk
or 07970 717 159.