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Unique look into
the economic heritage of urban Britain
THE first comprehensive
analysis of city economies in 1901 shows how urban Britain has
evolved since the turn of the twentieth century. Cities Outlook
1901, a research project by the think tank Centre for Cities,
captures how life in our cities has changed for the people living
there.
The report highlights the extent of the long term scarring effect
that poor skills can have on a city and the people who live there.
The research shows that the skills spectrum across cities in 1901 is
mirrored in their economic strength today. 7 out of 8 of the best
performing cities today had above average skills levels in 1901;
while 80% of cities with vulnerable economies in 2012 fall into the
bottom 20 cities for skills levels in 1901.
The research, which uses census data to understand the economic
stories of our cities in 1901, also compares how cities have
progressed across measures like population, employment, and wages to
understand how some cities have become more successful than others.
The report shows that investment in infrastructure and other drivers
of growth have helped some cities buck the trend. Cities like
Preston, Warrington and Swindon have progressed much more quickly
than others in spite of their economic background. Warrington, for
example, has a much more highly skilled population now than in 1901.
It was in the bottom 5% of cities for skills at the turn of the
century. Today, the skills profile of its residents has improved
significantly and it now falls within the top 20% of cities for
skills. But why is this?
One of the obvious similarities between these cities is that they
benefited from government investment in transport. 2 of them –
Warrington and Preston; were designated as New Towns. A key element
of this programme was infrastructure; roads, railways and homes.
Where this was targeted effectively, it enabled movement of skilled
workers between neighbouring cities and as the cities expanded they
became more attractive as a business location.
The following tables show which cities saw the greatest positive
change on the Cities Outlook indicator from 1901 to 2011 and which
cities saw the reverse. The index is compiled by measuring the
economic performance of cities across various indicators:
|
PUA |
Index 1901 |
Index 2011 |
Change |
| Warrington |
12.5 |
82.1 |
69.6 |
| Preston |
7.1 |
67.8 |
60.7 |
| Swindon |
3.5 |
60.7 |
57.2 |
| Norwich |
28.5 |
75 |
46.5 |
| |
|
PUA |
Index 1901 |
Index 2011 |
Change |
| Grimsby |
62.5 |
12.5 |
-50 |
| Liverpool |
71.4 |
19.6 |
-51.8 |
| Bradford |
78.5 |
23.2 |
-55.3 |
| Hastings |
94.6 |
28.5 |
-66.1 |
The research has significant
implications for Government and policy makers. It illustrates that
short term cuts in expenditure on the policies that support cities
to boost skills, from education to transport infrastructure, are
likely to result in a big bill for government in the medium to
longer term.
Government needs to sustain investment in the areas where policy can
make a difference to people’s life chances. This means directing
money into the education system now to ensure that children and
young people are being prepared for the world of work. A focus on
core skills such as numeracy and literacy is imperative. Cities
should also work with providers to ensure that courses are
responsive to the needs of the modern economy.
Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities said:-
“Cities Outlook 1901 provides a unique window through which to
observe how far our cities have come since the turn of the twentieth
century. History tells us that failure to invest in city economies has long
term effects for the UK economy. The Government needs to preference
the policies that support cities to grow; the research shows that
skills and transport in particular can shape the economic health of
a city. Ensuring the education system prepares children for the
world of work when they leave school is vital for those children and
for the future health of the UK economy.
If the Government holds back on investing in these fundamental
policies now, history shows that it will pay later.” |
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CIWEM
welcomes draft Water Bill but calls for more urgency and more
innovation
CIWEM agrees with the
principle of better regulation and wider competition as set out in
the draft Water Bill. However, this Institution advocates more
radical change that can be delivered without further primary
legislation.
There is a need for a rapid pace of change within the structure of
the water sector in order to build resilience and respond to climate
change, floods, droughts, demographic change; and there is a need to
invest in and deliver innovative solutions to these issues. Building
a fitter-for-purpose water sector able to meet current and future
challenges is outlined in CIWEM’s advocacy report ‘Regulation for a
Sustainable Water Industry’.
CIWEM urges the government to up the pace of progress on the issues
raised within the Water White Paper, published late last year, and
take the ambitious steps required to deliver integrated water
management systems and a sector that is resilient to the challenge
of increased demand from a growing, urbanised population and to
climate change. These issues will be explored in greater depth
at CIWEM’s forthcoming Regulation conference in London on 29
November.
CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves OBE, says:- “CIWEM is
pleased that the Draft Water Bill has been published and welcomes
many of the government’s proposals. Even if more competition in the
sector does not encourage customers to switch suppliers on the scale
predicted, water companies should be encouraged by the existence of
competition to improve and innovate their levels of service.
But there remain some serious conflicts in water policy. The
Committee on Climate Change noted the need to make water more
expensive to deter profligate use. Yet the focus of the draft Bill
is to make water as cheap as possible and to increase shareholder
benefit.
Whilst the government has focussed on the importance of competition
to deliver better shareholder and customer value, the challenges are
much more stark and require urgent and wide-reaching action. In a
matter of weeks we have slalomed from drought and water restrictions
to some of the worst summer flooding on record. The Committee on
Climate Change, through its Adaptation Sub-Committee, is the latest
body to warn of the link between climate change and extremes of
weather. The narrative is water – too much or too little. So we must
manage it better, recognising its innate value to our everyday lives
and over and above that which is reflected in our bills.”
Inspect a Gadget
IT was the gadget no self-respecting Edwardian
gentleman could do without; a portable moustache protector.
The protector, used to guard hirsute upper lips when drinking tea,
will be on display, along with numerous other weird and wonderful
inventions and devices, at Croxteth Hall from next week.
Among the items on show will be a self-pouring teapot, a rope-making
machine, mice-traps of various type and what has been described a
the “lap-top of the 1920’s" – a table top which can be worn
using a corded neck holder to hold it in place.
They are part of a vast array of artefacts from the Victorian times
to the 1950s accumulated by collector Maurice Collins. He started
collecting curious objects after he dug up a bottle with a marble in
the neck and wondered what it was for. Now he hires out his
collection to raise money for the charity Kith and Kids.
This year to mark the Olympics some of the items will have a
sporting theme, including a prototype machine for cleaning tennis
balls and some primitive in-line skates. The Hall will also be
staging a special “Teddylimpics” – a special teddy bear quiz
with an Olympics theme,
“When this collection was last at Croxteth two years it proved
to be very popular. Visitors were fascinated
by the different items trying to work out what they were used for.
And what better setting could they have than at Croxteth Hall,
where, no doubt, gadgets of this type were in everyday use in
Edwardian times.” said Julia Carder, curator of collections
for Culture Liverpool
The exhibition- which is in a number of rooms throughout the Hall;
runs from Monday, 16 July 2012 to Friday, 10 August 2012. Normal admission
prices and opening times apply.
More information about the collection can be found at:-
victoriangadgets.com
and
kithandkids.org.uk |
