MHCLG | Regional Economic Intelligence: Analysis of Local Economies Facing Potential Shocks
Metro Dynamics was commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to develop analysis of the vulnerability of local places in England to economic shocks, and to contribute to policy thinking about the kinds of interventions that might help local places respond to such shocks. The project was researched and written during the global and national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved a severe economic shock with impacts on all places in the UK.
There were three primary outputs of the project; a Regional Economic Intelligence Report, a bespoke Economic Vulnerability Analysis and a Dashboard Scoping Report. We also developed a dashboard using Power BI for use now in relation to tracking COVID-19 induced economic impacts.
Liverpool City Council | Economic Recovery Plan
Metro Dynamics was commissioned in April 2020, as the effects of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis were still emerging, to support Liverpool City Council in developing an economic recovery plan. This was Metro Dynamics’ first project run entirely remotely during the COVID-19 lockdown. Through a critical friendship, we were involved in substantive business case reviews and co-ordination alongside the drafting and development of a recovery narrative and plan for Liverpool. We provided robust and timely quantitative economic analysis to demonstrate Liverpool’s vulnerability to and the initial local economic impacts of COVID-19. We also helped to develop, test and iterate the work packages necessary for Liverpool’s recovery programme, which ultimately comprised of innovation, housing, employment and the creative and visitor economy.
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | West Bromwich and Smethwick Town Deals
Sandwell MBC commissioned Metro Dynamics to support the submission of their Town Deals for West Bromwich and Smethwick to the Government’s Towns Fund. The Metro Dynamics team began the project with a detailed economic evidence base, followed by work with the Council to assemble a longlist of projects which could advance to funding. This coincided with an extensive consultation, done via one-to-one interviews with businesses and third sector partners, led by Metro Dynamics, and through social media, led by the Council. This added to the extensive economic evidence base.
We led the drafting of the narrative Part I of the TIP and supported project leads in completing the TIP Part II. We finished the process by calculating indicative Benefit Cost Ratios for each, using the available information to create models for their economic impact on the town.
Belfast City Council | Inclusive Growth Strategy
Metro Dynamics has been commissioned by Belfast City Council to support them in their inclusive growth ambitions. We worked to define inclusive growth in Belfast and create an inclusive growth mission statement. This was informed by the outcomes of an engagement exercise based on a series of interviews with council officers, council directors and party leaders, and a workshop with council members. We then worked with the Council to develop a bespoke Inclusive Growth Decision Making Framework that can be embedded across the Council. The focus is on what Belfast City Council can do across all of its activities to better promote inclusive growth. We have acted as a critical friend as officers draft the Inclusive Growth Strategy.
Buckinghamshire Council | Recovery and Growth Deal
Metro Dynamics worked with Buckinghamshire Council and partners on the development of their Recovery and Growth Deal. This included producing a proposition for a Recovery and Growth Deal (succeeding as a place, succeeding as a county), developed iteratively with the Council and partners through workshops and the Growth Board. We have also supported Buckinghamshire with the development of a set of investible propositions, which represent big opportunities on a strategic and transformational scale to deliver the Recovery and Growth Deal and appeal to Government. We have provided ongoing advice on governance and Growth Board development, as well as support in preparing for negotiations and meetings with MHCLG. This has included providing policy and drafting support, and strategic advice provided to the Chief Executive, senior Council officers and partners, and the Growth Board. We are continuing to work with Buckinghamshire on a 12-month retainer to develop and agree the Recovery and Growth Deal.
London Councils | Economic Recovery Plan
London Councils commissioned Metro Dynamics to support a Covid-19 recovery framework for London Boroughs. The overarching aims of the strategy were to: establish a London narrative for recovery with inclusive, economic growth at its centre; strengthen partnership working between boroughs, Sub-Regional Partnerships and the GLA; and lay the groundwork for a subsequent London-wide recovery deal with Government.
Initial steps involved the creation of a city-wide Covid impact evidence base, emphasising the implications of the ‘Zoomshock’ effect, assessing the implications on different London boroughs. This was supported by a review of current policies and interventions designed to support London’s recovery through its ‘9 Missions’. This informed a scenario building exercise, reflecting city-wide thinking about the future of London, alongside our own insights from working with other cities and places. The evidence, policy review, and scenario building all supported our final report and recovery framework. This framework contained a robust set of economic interventions that could support London in achieving a sustainable renewal from Covid-19; we also outlined a set of recommendations in how to implement these interventions, centring on a partnership approach and ‘London as a System’.
Meanwhile, in parallel to this work, we conducted an extensive programme of senior stakeholder engagement with borough Leaders, Sub-Regional Partnerships, GLA senior officers, and business representatives. This engagement helped us better understand the impact of the pandemic and local priorities for the future. Upon completion of the report, we continued that engagement, sharing our narrative, findings and recommendations with senior groups and executive growth directors.
Manchester City Council | Economic recovery and investment plan
Metro Dynamics was commissioned in July 2020 to support Manchester City Council in forming their COVID-19 economic recovery response to Government. At this stage, it was clear Government were making available funds to support recovery, in addition to grants and loans, to support the labour market and business. Working alongside specialist economic consultancy Ekosgen, we developed the overall recovery narrative, creating a compelling story to support the propositions in Manchester’s Recovery and Investment Plan. This was further developed through a series of engagement with local leaders, private sector working groups and an economic scrutiny committee.
This narrative focused on continuing Manchester’s track record of delivery and strong civic partnerships, setting out an ambitious plan to sustain its people and economy. The plan was not only about kickstarting growth in an unprecedented time for the country, but also re-establishing the growth of the past five years, aligning the city with the Government’s levelling up and low carbon agenda.
Social Mobility Commission
Metro Dynamics was commissioned by the Social Mobility Commission to provide a detailed understanding of how the Commission’s existing research and policy expertise can best support the Government’s forward policy agenda, particularly around place, levelling up, and economic recovery and renewal. This included a focus on metrics and measures used to monitor economic and social conditions, to shape the future direction of the Commission.
We produced a Research and Policy Review report, that brought together the main conclusions from existing research by the Social Mobility Commission and others, and insights from conversations with 35 policy makers and influencers. We presented and discussed our findings with the Social Mobility Commission in two workshops, one focused on evidence and metrics, and one focused on policy.
Accompanying this Review were three case studies on Bolton, Grimsby and Stoke-on-Trent to understand local places’ experience of working on levelling up related initiatives and to consider local suggestions as to how policy should change to support levelling up and social mobility.
This led to the scoping of a potential Place Programme, helping refine the Social Mobility Commission’s offer and identify where it could add the most value. This involved a review of best practice and how other places approach place programmes. We set out possible aims, an offer based on three key aspects, potential content, principles for delivery, timeframes, options for resourcing, and potential criteria for places to work with.