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City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham Podcast

Megatrends in the West Midlands - Work and Skills

Season 1, Ep. 4

In this episode of the City-REDI / WMREDI, University of Birmingham podcast, we look at work and skills in the West Midlands. Dr Abigail Taylor discusses the subject with Dr Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight - Economic Delivery, Skills and Communities, WMCA.


Topics include:

  • The impact of digitisation and automation on work and learning.
  • Developing broader digital skills and confidence in using technology.
  • Digital exclusion.
  • What COVID 19 has revealed to us about priorities for upskilling and reskilling.
  • Policy priorities for the WMCA.
  • The importance of place when developing policies that address skills and employment challenges.
  • The role of universities in upskilling and reskilling.
  • The collaboration between regional partners and national government.
  • Devolution.


This podcast is part of a larger project looking at Megatrends in the West Midlands. Megatrends are major movements, patterns or trends that have a transformative impact on business, economy, society, cultures and personal lives. The project examines some of these megatrends in a series of provocations, podcasts and a report.

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