University Centre plays key part in agenda-setting discussion on the economy

News from our partners University Centre Shrewsbury

Academic and business leaders at the Chester Forum

University Centre Shrewsbury played an important role at an event bringing together academic and business leaders – including speakers from across the globe – to discuss economic growth.

For the past six years the Chester Forum, organised by the University of Chester Business Research Institute, has provided an opportunity for decision makers to look together at current issues affecting the economy.

For the first time this year, University Centre Shrewsbury was a key part of the Forum, hosting one of the four discussion sessions, each designed to reflect on different aspects of the recent General Election and its implications on business.

Speakers at the four sessions included academics from Austria, Germany and America, directors and chief executives from major companies and a Former Secretary of State for Communities.

Mike Hyatt, Research Director at University Centre Shrewsbury, hosted a conversation offering perspectives on the economy of rural communities, the role of family businesses and the impact of borders – such as the Welsh-English border – on economic growth.

The first speaker, Meredydd David, Principal of Reaseheath College gave an overview on challenges and opportunities for rural communities.

Mike said:

“What really struck me was how Meredydd focused on rural areas as being at the forefront of tackling some of the biggest societal and environmental challenges. While we often think of cities as sources of innovation, it’s actually rural communities, here and across the globe, which are having to address some of the biggest international challenges like an ageing population and the impact of man-made climate change first and fastest.

“I think research at University Centre Shrewsbury can help contribute to many of these debates through the excellent links we’re starting to build.”

The second speaker was Nick Hodson, Managing Director of Jane Lewis Limited, a family business offering healthcare and recruitment services.

Mike Hyatt said:

“Nick spoke passionately about the importance of family businesses in much of rural England, particularly reflecting on their characteristics as risk-takers and ideas generators, but also on the challenge they often then face in turning good ideas into sound business propositions.

“Nick made me think carefully about the potential University Centre Shrewsbury could play, both in supporting skills for family businesses, but also bringing people with experience in this sector into the lecture-room to talk to our students about what makes businesses survive and thrive. When he mentioned the lack of ‘entrepreneurship’ in the UK education system, and the need to address this, it really chimed with some of the guiding principles behind University Centre Shrewsbury and what we’re trying to achieve through a different sort of curriculum and approach to teaching.”

Final speaker, Professor Frank Peck, University of Cumbria, talked about cross-border economies, drawing on his experience of England and Scotland, but also thinking about England and Wales.

“I’ve known Frank since working together in Cumbria on tackling the consequences of Foot and Mouth Disease on rural communities in 2001. He made some fascinating points about the impact of the Scottish Referendum and on George Osborne’s plans for a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ with significant devolution to City-Regions, starting in Manchester.

“This made me wonder how, as governance arrangements diverge across the UK, we can maintain and even enhance opportunities for creative learning across national and regional boundaries, and the role universities like us can play in making this happen.”

The “Growing the Economy and Generating Prosperity: Reflections post the 2015 General Election – Chester Forum” took place on 21 May 2015 at Chester Business Park.