We've been the source of research, facts and figures about the West Midlands since 2002.
We offer hard facts and an objective assessment of what those facts tell us, helping decision makers take tough policy decisions with a sense of confidence about the future.
Better evidence will lead to better policy, strategy and funding in the West Midlands, so that services and ultimately people's lives are improved.
Informing Local Enterprise Partnerships
Since the new coalition government came into power in May 2010, there have been a number of changes in local government policy. Most notable for our work, was a decision to replace Regional Development Agencies with Local Enterpise Partnerships.
Despite this significant change, the social and economic challenges facing the West Midlands remain and must now be taken forward by these new partnerships. We believe that decisions taken by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), be they at a LEP level or at a level that transcends LEP boundaries, must be well informed and evidence based.
As the source of facts and figures for the West Midlands, we will provide expertise and support going forward, to help ensure LEP decisions are guided by an objective analysis of the facts.
Better evidence... Better Policy... Better lives.
Monitoring progress
We report on the State of the West Midlands and support partners in meeting their data and intelligence needs.
This includes coordinating the evidence base to support the Regional Skills Partnership and analysing changing needs of the labour market in the West Midlands.
People and networks
We coordinate a community of networking and data groups. Each group focuses on a particular theme, with members drawn from different sectors.
These groups identify the right facts, statistics and research to encourage evidence-based policy in the West Midlands. The groups are also forums for researchers and policy professionals to influence and guide our research.
Highlights from our work
Read our 2009/10 annual report (pdf, 467kb)