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Social Mobility Talks: Regional Inequality in the UK

Text: Social Mobility Talks, hosted by Rob Wilson with guest Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland. Image showing Resham Kotecha and Ed Balls' faces.
Published: 11 Apr 2024

In the latest episode of the “Social Mobility Talks” podcast, Resham Kotecha, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, discusses regional inequalities, innovation, devolution and more with former Minister, Ed Balls.

In the episode, Ed discusses the widening disparities between different regions of the UK. He explores the underlying reasons for these inequalities and potential solutions to address them.

Ed’s conversation with the SMC highlights how regional inequality affects many aspects of life such as access to education, employment, healthcare and overall quality of life. He sheds light on the challenges and potential lessons that can be drawn from different approaches to regional development.

Ed’s shares insights from his research into regional disparity and approaches to dealing with the issue that emphasises the importance of targeted policies addressing the specific needs of disadvantaged regions. He argues that addressing regional inequality requires a multifaceted approach involving government intervention, private sector engagement and community-driven initiatives.

You can watch the full podcast here, and previous episodes of Social Mobility Talks can be viewed on the Social Mobility Commission YouTube channel.

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