Evidence Hearing: Inclusive Growth in Nottingham

The RSA Inclusive Growth Commission will run four evidence hearings across the country during the course of its inquiry. The third is in Nottingham, and will call upon senior leaders to give evidence to the Commission in a series of three panel sessions, as well as through a roundtable.

Nottingham has two universities - the international campus University of Nottingham, and the more locally-focused Nottingham Trent University. Its historic core industry of lace-making has evolved into the Creative Quarter, with the former warehouse buildings now converted into apartments, bars, restaurants and shops. But how do the universities link up, both with each other and the wider area? How do those living in the wider Shire, in places like Worksop and Mansfield, seize the opportunity that comes from the creative industries? And how will High Speed Rail 2's East Midlands Hub affect Nottingham, and the surrounding cities of Derby and Leicester?

The RSA’s Inclusive Growth Commission is exploring how to best make local economies across the UK more economically inclusive and prosperous, through a series of seminars, research, case studies, evidence hearings and a call for evidence.

We want to make sure that what we're exploring resonates with the people who live and work in Nottingham, and is grounded in real experiences. We want your input to help us sense-check the discussion and ensure your voice on the inclusive growth agenda and the future of Nottingham is heard. We also want to explore practical actions and next steps that you can take. 

In particular, we want to ask:

 

• The nature of the challenge of creating inclusive growth within the city and neighbouring smaller towns, including the particular barriers – sectors, skills, history and economic geography (e.g.) – to inclusive growth and how this impacts on households, firms and communities; 
• The extent to which local businesses, civil society organisations and public sector partners are already trying to tackle these challenges and to what effect, as well as what else they might need to do to support inclusive growth;
• The extent to which devolution proposals in the region will support additional growth, the nature of that growth and what further powers and fiscal/financial levers could enhance the ability to create more inclusive growth over the longer term; and, 
• What else central government might need to do, or do differently, to enable Nottingham to become a more inclusive economy?

 

This will be an informal roundtable, where we'll be bringing together representatives from community networks and organisations across Nottingham, as well as Commissioners, RSA Fellows and members of the Commission Secretariat. 

The roundtable will be running 12-1.30pm, followed by lunch. The roundtable will be followed by an Evidence Hearing which you are welcome to stay and observe from 2.30-5.30. Those giving evidence to the hearing will be announced soon. 

Further opportunities will be available to provide additional information to the Commission, including submitting evidence to the Commission. 

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Find out more by contacting inclusivegrowth@rsa.org.uk or visit www.thersa.org/inclusivegrowthcommission.