How Cool is the South Coast’s Technology Scene? This is a guest blog by Phil Clark. Phil is the Chair of TechSolent CIC, a social enterprise working with local industry, education institutions and government bodies to drive the sector forward. With 500 members across the technology sector in the region, […]
Social Enterprise and levelling up
Social Enterprise and levelling up to an inclusive and sustainable economy for central southern England This is a guest blog by John Merritt, a Director of Social Enterprise Link (Wessex). John was born in Hampshire, started work at 16 and spent most of his working life in three industrial sectors. The […]
Re-imagining our city centres: one year on
Re-imagining our city centres: one year on In November 2020 SPC and Blake Morgan launched a report exploring the future of our city centres. For some time now we have seen changes in retail driven by on-line shopping. That fuelled a policy debate about the future of the ‘High Street.’ […]
Life after Covid – Building Back Fairer in the South
Life after Covid – Building Back Fairer in the South This is a guest blog by Councillor Dave Shields who is currently Southampton City Councillor for the Freemantle Ward. Dave was born, raised and educated in Southampton. Leaving full time school education at 17 he held a number of jobs […]
The Circular Economy – just how do we do that?
The Circular Economy – just how do we do that? This is a guest blog by Chas Bradfield, who recently stepped down as Strategic Director – Place at Winchester City Council after a career in the health service, local government and regeneration consultancy work. Town centre regeneration has been a […]
Time for London and the South East to listen to Frank
Time for London and the South East to listen to Frank This is a guest post by Nick Bowes. Nick is Chief Executive of Centre for London. He was most recently the Mayoral Director of Policy at the Greater London Authority. Nick has previously worked at the Royal Society, EEF […]
Responding and adapting to Covid-19: a Chief Executive’s reflection
Responding and adapting to Covid-19: a chief executive’s reflection This is a guest post by Paul Cox, the Chief Executive at Eastleigh College. Paul also serves on a wide range of external educational and employer bodies, including the Hampshire Principals’ Group, and the Eastleigh Consortium Heads and Principals. Paul is also […]
Working with young people
Help us to move on! Our report for the Blagrave Trust outlining practical policy recommendations to address some of the issues facing young people in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton can be read below. People aged 16 to 25 have done most of their growing up in the shadow of the […]
Retaining graduates from the central South’s universities
Retaining graduates from the central South’s universities. Both authors frequently hear the refrain ‘we must retain more of our graduates’ at meetings and seminars on the local economy. This report, commissioned by Willmott Dixon, explores the retention of graduates from the central South’s universities in our economy and examines the […]
SPC hosts senior Higher Education policy round-table
This week, in collaboration with Solent University, we were delighted to host a senior higher education policy round-table. Topics discussed included access, funding and the economic role of HE. Among those attending were the chair of the Business Select Committee, two former cabinet ministers for universities, the current Chief Executive of […]