Creative Industries in the North of Tyne

Economic growth, Research, analysis and evidence, University
Ortus and survey partners Qa Research have been commissioned by Newcastle University to undertake a mapping study of the creative and cultural industries in the North of Tyne area. Scoping work in this area has identified that existing data is patchy in both coverage and depth, and some derived from national statistics rather than locally grounded research. This research will map the distinctive characteristics of the creative industries in the North of Tyne Combined Authority area and identify particular challenges or barriers to growth. The University has considerable research strengths in the creative and cultural industries and already works in partnership with the sector on a range of projects and strategic initiatives. The aim of this work is to better enable the University to identify and respond to local need…
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Employment and skills issues in the North East

Local Enterprise Partnership, Research, analysis and evidence, Skills and labour markets
Ortus and survey partners Qa Research have been commissioned to deliver an assessment of current and future skills and employment needs in the tourism and offshore wind sectors in the North East, and an assessment of the digital skills and employment needs in the region's health and social care sector. The research has been commissioned by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership on behalf of the North East Skills Advisory Panel, and will involve a survey of employers in each of the three sectors and a series of in-depth interviews, as well as analysis of secondary data. The research will help the Skills Advisory Panel and the LEP to ensure that skills provision reflects employer needs. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is a public, private and education sector partnership.…
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The size and performance of the UK’s Low Carbon industries

Government, Research, analysis and evidence, Sectors
This project was a data-driven analysis of this highly dynamic and emerging sector. The Ortus team, whilst working at TBR, led a multi-disciplinary team that designed and implemented a novel and comprehensive methodology. The study required the development of new definitions for the low carbon economy based on numerous sub-sectors, the capture and analysis of business and economic data for each sub-sector (including GVA), a large survey to capture business operations and financial data which was robust at the level of each sub-sector, economic and data modelling to generate population-level estimates and the production of a published report. The study used economic impact assessment techniques and followed Green and Magenta Book guidelines. The study has been used by UK Government as well as a wide range of stakeholders to evidence…
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Productivity Performance in Central Bedfordshire

Economic growth, Local Authority, Research, analysis and evidence
Central Bedfordshire Council engaged Andrew Graves and colleagues at TBR to undertake a study to test the assumption that Central Bedfordshire is a low Gross Value Added (GVA) and low productivity economy and, if this was found to be the case, to investigate the causes. The study focused on analysis of secondary data to explore the economic output and productivity performance of the local economy. The first task was to establish and describe the key measures of output and productivity and to acquire the data necessary to assess these for Central Bedfordshire and comparator areas.  Measures employed included total GVA, GVA per capita, GVA per filled job, GVA per hour worked and GVA per firm.  The study also investigated innovation levels using granular data from the UK Innovation Survey (UKIS),…
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Women Count 2018

Equality and diversity, Research, analysis and evidence
The Pipeline has published its most recent annual report into the gender balance in executive teams across the FTSE350, showing that there has been a slow down in progress to bring more women into the C-Suite in our largest companies.  The analysis includes a review of Ortus Economic Research is proud to again have delivered the analysis underpinning the report. The Pipeline delivers executive leadership programmes specifically designed for women. Research shows that organisations do better and are more able to succeed in our globalised world when they have greater gender diversity at the most senior levels. Women Count 2018 was covered extensively in the national and trade press as well as being cited by Parliament.  Examples include articles in The Times (paywall), Retail Gazette and Construction News.  
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Economic Futures and the Milton Keynes Growth Strategy

Economic growth, Local Authority, Research, analysis and evidence
According to the National Infrastructure Commission, the Cambridge-Oxford ARC is set to set a population increase of over 1 million and a growth in employment of 1.1 million between now and 2050.  Milton Keynes is located right in the middle of the ARC and therefore faces a major growth opportunity. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, Ortus Economic Research was charged with developing a range of grounded, evidence-based future scenarios for the economy of Milton Keynes and to support the integration of the scenarios into a spatial growth strategy.
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Benchmarking study of Athena SWAN programmes

Equality and diversity, Research, analysis and evidence, University
The London Mathematical Society commissioned Ortus Economic Research to deliver this benchmarking study examining the staff and student gender balance within UK Mathematics departments and to identify good practice in addressing gender imbalances. The study was led by a steering group which included Dr Eugenie Hunsicker (Warwick University) and Professor John Greenlees (Sheffield University). The purpose of the study was to assist the Society in their efforts to provide valuable research and data to members in support of the Women and Diversity in Mathematics initiative and its Good Practice Scheme. Specifically, the objectives of the project were to: derive a picture of gender diversity in mathematics departments in the UK publish both quantitative and qualitative evidence relevant to gender diversity identify issues for further, more detailed investigation The research has…
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Designing a future economy

Charity, Research, analysis and evidence, Sectors
Published in 2017, this study for Design Council identifies the key skills which differentiate the design economy from other industries and the link between these skills and innovation and productivity within the UK economy. Using the O*Net database from the USA, the study investigates the skills which are associated with design occupations based on the Design Economy definition. It also identifies ‘design active’ occupations, which are those which use design skills but have not previously been associated with the design definition. Detailed analysis of other secondary data was then employed to understand the relationship between design skills and economic outcomes (i.e. business growth, productivity, innovation rates). Lastly, the study examined the training and recruitment patterns within the design economy as well as issues associated with skills gaps and vacancies. This…
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The role of culture, heritage and sport in place-shaping

Government, Place, Research, analysis and evidence
In 2015 the CASE programme commissioned our team (whilst working at TBR), along with Middlesex University and NEF Consulting, to undertake an important and ground-breaking study examining the role that cultural, sporting and heritage assets and investment play in shaping local places. This study focused on generating evidence to support the argument that culture, heritage and sports infrastructure and investment have the ability to promote economic and social outcomes. The stated aim of the study was to examine the extent to which culture, heritage and sport infrastructure and investment within a place influence (through direct and indirect impacts, tangible and intangible) the economy and society of that place. The published report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-role-of-culture-sport-and-heritage-in-place-shaping
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Heritage and place branding

NDPB, Place, Research, analysis and evidence
Whilst working at TBR, Andrew Graves and Andrew Rowell led a project (working in partnership with Middlesex University and Pomegranate Consulting) to deliver a project that explores the role of heritage in place branding. This work was designed to contribute to the annual Heritage Counts series and the subject matter was selected specifically by the Historic Environment Forum (HEF). At the time, there was an increasing focus on how heritage influences place and this study contributed to the evidence base in that theme. The project began with a conceptual review of effective place branding and how heritage features within this as well as a brief review of ‘agents’ involved in place branding around England and their roles. It proceeded to capture evidence of how heritage is employed within place branding…
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