Corporate
The Economic Intelligence Unit to be based at Walsall Council
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A team of economists and analysts specialising in people, place and business is to be based at Walsall Council.
The Economic Intelligence Unit (The EIU) will continue to provide opportunities for public sector organisations, councils and others across the region to access intelligence and analysis as a resource.
Since 2002, local authority partners have valued the assets and work of The EIU and as a result, its reputation and expertise has grown, gaining regional and national recognition.
The evidence and work of The EIU has previously contributed to establishing key economic development structures and plans. This includes the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP), the Black Country City Deal, the Midlands Engine Observatory and West Midlands Combined Authority’s Strategic Economic Plan and the Local Industrial Strategy.
The EIU also supports the strategic intelligence needs of the City of Wolverhampton and the Borough Councils of Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Midlands Engine.
Furthermore, they will be responsible for providing and applying intelligence to inform, support and influence decision-making.
In addition, they will provide a flexible intelligence response to meet bespoke requirements, enabling councils and other partners to respond to emerging needs.
“ The EIU has provided Walsall and our neighbouring authorities with a robust evidence base for over 20 years now. This is really adding value to our processes and decision-making across key areas including regeneration, skills, business and the wider economy.
It is our pleasure to have The EIU based at Walsall Council on behalf of local partners and the wider region, ensuring the unique skill and resource of this vital asset continues now and far into the future. “
“ Given recent local changes in economic development structures, we are delighted that The EIU’s expertise and resource is being maintained. We are driven by a passion for providing evidence-led, data-driven insights to support local decision-makers.
We look forward to continuing this support at a time of great need for communities and businesses, for the good of the Black Country and the wider Midlands region. “
For more information about The Economic Intelligence Unit, visit www.theeiu.org and sign up to the newsletter via the link at the bottom of The EIU website.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- The Economic Intelligence Unit (The EIU) was previously part of Black Country Consortium Ltd, a partnership organisation across the four Black Country local authorities which demised in March 2023. Walsall Council has agreed to host The EIU, enabling local authorities to continue recognising The EIU as a vital asset for the region.
- The EIU is core funded by the four Black Country local authorities, with additional income from working in partnership with other organisations.
- The EIU services include, but are not limited to:
- Economic and social trends, both qualitative and quantitative
- Comprehensive assessments of labour markets and the skills ecosystem
- Inclusive growth including health, social mobility and deprivation analysis
- In-depth reports on changes in local infrastructure and the environment
- Business intelligence, including the identification of sectoral clusters
- Evaluation, including interim and final evaluations, along with process, impact and economic evaluations of both programmes and policies
- Spatial analysis, presenting findings through easy-to-understand maps
