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Inclusive Transformation

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8000+

Academics 

8

Partner universities

5

Disciplines

Wellbeing
&
Prosperity 

The Economy:
Rescue
Revive
Renewal 

A new research focus for all

The UK is one of the most regionally imbalanced economies in the industrialised world.

London’s economy grew by 71% compared to around 30% in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the West Midlands regions between 1998 and 2016. Average household wealth fell by 12% in the North East and East Midlands, but grew by nearly 80% in London between 2006 and 2018.

Data from the Institute of Fiscal Studies in 2019 concluded that absolute poverty is projected to rise in the Midlands, North East, North West, Wales and Northern Ireland but fall in southern regions, the East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Scotland

In addition, our region contains some of the highest and lowest levels of ethnic diversity. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these inequalities more obvious and severe, whilst bringing about huge economic challenges. 

These challenges require a diverse and dedicated research focus: Inclusive Transformation.

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The collective breadth and depth of our institutions’ knowledge and reputation across the disciplinary spectrum will leverage new opportunities to support economic renewal and improve wellbeing for all in our region. Together we are committed to levelling up the Midlands and inclusively transforming places and peoples’ futures.


Simon Green, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Aston University

Inclusive Transformation tackling challenges 

Tackling the challenges of inequality, low productivity and community prosperity requires the collective expertise of academics within one of the best-networked regional university partnerships.

The collective breadth and depth of our institutions’ knowledge and reputation across the wide disciplinary spectrum will leverage new opportunities that will be crucial to the Midlands post COVID-19 recovery.

By combining nationally recognised university schools with several thousand academics across Social Sciences and Humanities with our diverse stakeholders, Midlands Innovation is creating considerable strength and capacity to develop new insight. 

With a shared commitment to ‘rescue, revive and renew’ our economy, the work will find solutions to social issues we are facing as a society, such as:

  • how to draw communities out of poverty
  • how to improve educational outcomes, and
  • understanding the impact of financial exclusion and the access to financial services across different socio-economic groups.

How will it make a difference?

Midlands Innovation is bringing together more than 8,000 researchers from our eight universities to develop ideas that will shape the region’s economic and social response to the pandemic over the next decade.

Experts within Social Sciences, Humanities, Engineering, Physical Sciences, Life and Medical Sciences will support the urgent task of post-COVID reconstruction of the Midlands economy.

In addition to the health challenges, researchers are collaborating on new ideas that will support:

  • Economic Renewal
  • Wellbeing and Prosperity for all
  • Social Diversity and Inclusion

Read more about Inclusive Transformation in Simon Green’s blog.

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