A toxic combination of 15 years of low growth, and four decades of high inequality, has left Britain poorer and falling behind its peers. Wages today are no higher than they were before the financial crisis, and England’s biggest cities beyond London all have productivity levels below the national average. Britain needs a new economic strategy to lift itself out of stagnation.

In many ways, Bristol reflects the challenges facing the country as a whole. It has long been a hub for high-value aerospace manufacturing and also has considerable strengths in services, including education, creative industries and green technology. But it also faces considerable challenges – from poor public transport to high housing costs – that limits growth and reduces living standards. Harnessing the city’s many strengths will be critical to meeting the economic challenges of the coming years, but Bristol won’t truly thrive unless all its citizens benefit from growth and investment.

The Budget on 6th March was the Government’s last chance to shape the economic agenda before the next election – and rise to the challenge of boosting prosperity. What should a new national economic strategy for Britain include? How will economic change affect the jobs we do, the places we live and the businesses we work for? What are the prospects for cities like Bristol in rising to these daunting but reachable challenges? And has the Budget helped or hindered Britain’s economic prospects?

The Resolution Foundation hosted this event in collaboration with Bristol Ideas and Business West to debate Britain’s future economic strategy, building on the analysis of The Economy 2030 Inquiry – a three-year collaboration between the Resolution Foundation and the LSE, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. We were joined by leading experts from policy and business in the region to discuss how different areas of the UK – particularly in Bristol and the South West – can secure widely shared prosperity.

Boosting Prosperity in Britain: The Role of Cities like Bristol in Ending Stagnation (7 March 2024)

Speakers: Damian Whittard, Jessica Lee, Anne Green, Richard Bonner, Jack Newman
Chair: Nick Pearce

We are entering a critical period for the UK with a new government this year and an economy still struggling. It is likely that devolution will continue but arrangements remain fractured and local areas remain starved of resource and with weak powers to deliver. What lessons can be learned from the successful work of northern authorities in securing better devolution? Will the treasury object and oppose further devolution? Can north and south grow together? What can the next government do to secure better and fairer economic growth? And what does this mean for Bristol and the West of England?

These are the first two events in a new national programme led by the Growing Together Alliance. Building on Bristol’s successful biennial Festival of the Future City, it seeks a better future for our places.

Launch of the New Futures West Foundation for Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth

Chair: Andrew Kelly
Speakers: Muniya Barua, Diane Coyle, Darren Jones and Henri Murison

We are entering a critical period for the UK with a new government this year and an economy still struggling. It is likely that devolution will continue but arrangements remain fractured and local areas remain starved of resource and with weak powers to deliver. What lessons can be learned from the successful work of northern authorities in securing better devolution? Will the treasury object and oppose further devolution? Can north and south grow together? What can the next government do to secure better and fairer economic growth? And what does this mean for Bristol and the West of England?

These are the first two events in a new national programme led by the Growing Together Alliance. Building on Bristol’s successful biennial Festival of the Future City, it seeks a better future for our places.

How Can The Next Government Spur Economic Growth With Constrained Finances?

Speakers: Ahmed Goga, Hannah Hickman, Angus Horner and Dan Thorp
Chair: Peter Foster

We are entering a critical period for the UK with a new government this year and an economy still struggling. It is likely that devolution will continue but arrangements remain fractured and local areas remain starved of resource and with weak powers to deliver. What lessons can be learned from the successful work of northern authorities in securing better devolution? Will the treasury object and oppose further devolution? Can north and south grow together? What can the next government do to secure better and fairer economic growth? And what does this mean for Bristol and the West of England?

These are the first two events in a new national programme led by the Growing Together Alliance. Building on Bristol’s successful biennial Festival of the Future City, it seeks a better future for our places.

Does The Next Government Have A Southern Strategy?

Speakers: Andrew Carter, Jane Robinson, Philip Rycroft
Chair: Heather Stewart

We are entering a critical period for the UK with a new government this year and an economy still struggling. It is likely that devolution will continue but arrangements remain fractured and local areas remain starved of resource and with weak powers to deliver. What lessons can be learned from the successful work of northern authorities in securing better devolution? Will the treasury object and oppose further devolution? Can north and south grow together? What can the next government do to secure better and fairer economic growth? And what does this mean for Bristol and the West of England?

These are the first two events in a new national programme led by the Growing Together Alliance. Building on Bristol’s successful biennial Festival of the Future City, it seeks a better future for our places.

Where Are We With Devolution And What Can The Next Government Do Better?

Challenge three: Cleo Lake 
Session four speakers: Leyla Boulton, Gabriella Gomez Mont, Sophie Howe

It is time to think afresh our ability to deliver for citizens. The challenges we face – from an aging population to a faltering health service; from uncertainty about the future of work to climate change – at a time of diminishing public budgets means we must find new ways to plan and deliver services. Often derided, our public bureaucracies are at the forefront of dealing with these challenges. Much good work is done. Many public servants are curious and creative, but suffer from risk-averse cultures. We all need to rethink what is done and how we do it especially in terms of valuing and cultivating imagination for the creation of alternative futures.

This first UK conference on this subject – hosted by Bristol Ideas, in collaboration with the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin – seeks to find new ways of solving some of these crucial challenges with inspiring people and presentations from a range of international speakers. The conference explores who is doing important work to rethink public administration, both here and elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The Berlin event – now in its seventh year – has triggered a movement of change with satellite events in other countries. It has become a collective gathering place for creative bureaucrats across the world with 1300 delegates attending its last event in June 2023. We look here at what we can learn for Britain as well for Bristol and the West of England.

How Can We Imagine New Creative Bureaucracies?

Speakers: Tom Burke, Melissa Mean, Cllr Josie Parkhouse, Paul Smith
Host: Andrew Kelly

It is time to think afresh our ability to deliver for citizens. The challenges we face – from an aging population to a faltering health service; from uncertainty about the future of work to climate change – at a time of diminishing public budgets means we must find new ways to plan and deliver services. Often derided, our public bureaucracies are at the forefront of dealing with these challenges. Much good work is done. Many public servants are curious and creative, but suffer from risk-averse cultures. We all need to rethink what is done and how we do it especially in terms of valuing and cultivating imagination for the creation of alternative futures.

This first UK conference on this subject – hosted by Bristol Ideas, in collaboration with the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin – seeks to find new ways of solving some of these crucial challenges with inspiring people and presentations from a range of international speakers. The conference explores who is doing important work to rethink public administration, both here and elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The Berlin event – now in its seventh year – has triggered a movement of change with satellite events in other countries. It has become a collective gathering place for creative bureaucrats across the world with 1300 delegates attending its last event in June 2023. We look here at what we can learn for Britain as well for Bristol and the West of England.

Creative Bureaucracy, Housing, And The Environment

Speakers: Stephen Hilton, Immy Kaur, Idoia Postigo, Nikki Linsell
Host: Geoff Mulgan

It is time to think afresh our ability to deliver for citizens. The challenges we face – from an aging population to a faltering health service; from uncertainty about the future of work to climate change – at a time of diminishing public budgets means we must find new ways to plan and deliver services. Often derided, our public bureaucracies are at the forefront of dealing with these challenges. Much good work is done. Many public servants are curious and creative, but suffer from risk-averse cultures. We all need to rethink what is done and how we do it especially in terms of valuing and cultivating imagination for the creation of alternative futures.

This first UK conference on this subject – hosted by Bristol Ideas, in collaboration with the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin – seeks to find new ways of solving some of these crucial challenges with inspiring people and presentations from a range of international speakers. The conference explores who is doing important work to rethink public administration, both here and elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The Berlin event – now in its seventh year – has triggered a movement of change with satellite events in other countries. It has become a collective gathering place for creative bureaucrats across the world with 1300 delegates attending its last event in June 2023. We look here at what we can learn for Britain as well for Bristol and the West of England.

How Do We Rethink Public Administration?

Challenge one: Poku Osei on creating a better environment for social mobility
Session one speakers: Johanna Sieben, Robyn Bennett, Tom Burke
Host: Charles Landry

It is time to think afresh our ability to deliver for citizens. The challenges we face – from an aging population to a faltering health service; from uncertainty about the future of work to climate change – at a time of diminishing public budgets means we must find new ways to plan and deliver services. Often derided, our public bureaucracies are at the forefront of dealing with these challenges. Much good work is done. Many public servants are curious and creative, but suffer from risk-averse cultures. We all need to rethink what is done and how we do it especially in terms of valuing and cultivating imagination for the creation of alternative futures.

This first UK conference on this subject – hosted by Bristol Ideas, in collaboration with the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin – seeks to find new ways of solving some of these crucial challenges with inspiring people and presentations from a range of international speakers. The conference explores who is doing important work to rethink public administration, both here and elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

The Berlin event – now in its seventh year – has triggered a movement of change with satellite events in other countries. It has become a collective gathering place for creative bureaucrats across the world with 1300 delegates attending its last event in June 2023. We look here at what we can learn for Britain as well for Bristol and the West of England.

What Is A Creative Bureaucracy?

The audio recordings for all Bristol Ideas work have been grouped into sets by programme and year.  Please note that not all events are recorded. If you notice any gremlins, glitches or other errors in the recordings, please let us know at info@bristolideas.co.uk and we will make the correction, if appropriate or possible.

Boosting Prosperity in Britain: The Role of Cities like Bristol in Ending Stagnation (7 March 2024)

Bristol Ideas

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