Earlier this year, the Social Mobility Commission published two reviews which specifically explore the link between innovation and social mobility; and productivity and social mobility. Having access to work opportunities is a key factor in supporting social mobility – these reports explore how innovation and productivity affect different individuals in different areas of the country.
This event will discuss the content of these Think pieces:
- Innovation and Social Mobility: Two sides of the Same Coin
- Spatial agglomeration, productivity and inequality
The panel will include the following speakers:
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- Professor Helen Higson OBE DL, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Aston University
- Professor Sir Richard Blundell CBE FBA, David Ricardo Chair of Political Economy at University College London
The event will be Co-Chaired by Chair of SMC, Alun Francis OBE and Deputy Chair, Rob Wilson.
At the event, the panel will discuss the critical relationship between innovation, productivity and social mobility and how, when taken together, they can lead to greater social mobility in the labour market. There will be an opportunity to hear from, and ask questions to, the author of one of the pieces, local leaders and the Social Mobility Commission.
This event links directly with one of our key policy themes – Growing Opportunities – which focuses on the role of innovation, productivity and economic growth has in improving opportunities and outcomes for all.
Please note, registration via the website is for online attendance only. We have a number of in person spaces available to attend the event at the studio Birmingham, please email Corporate Events to find out more.
About our speakers
Alun Francis, Chair, Social Mobility Commission
Alun Francis is the Chair of the Social Mobility Commission and Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College. Blackpool and the Fylde College is an award winning organisation and is one of the largest and highest performing further education colleges in the country. It has degree awarding powers, a wide choice of T levels and is a Centre of Excellence for World Skills. It is leading the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology, and is pioneering a new approach to Further Education and Higher Education delivery with Blackpool Council, called “Multiversity Blackpool” which sits at the heart of local regeneration plans.
Joanna Birch, Founder and Director of GROWTHINNK Associates
Joanna is founder and Director of GROWTHINNK Associates a consultancy which specialises in supporting people, organisation and places to grow using innovation tools, using 30 years of experience in innovation, service and organisational design to drive transformation. She is also the Chief Innovation Officer for Woodbourne Group, facilitating developments in Birmingham at the cutting edge of practice and Non Executive Director of Tech WM.
Jo is passionate about social mobility and transformation and worked for over 10 years as Birmingham City University‘s Director of Innovation, Enterprise and Employability, working to develop partnerships primarily around areas associated with creativity, sustainability and health to facilitate growth and encourage cross innovation. She was the founder and co-creator of STEAMhouse BCU’s collaborative centre for innovation. She has travelled extensively reviewing, benchmarking and speaking about innovation models and has been active in informing and shaping regional agendas and has worked extensively across the creative industries over the past ten years, building the case for reinvestment back into Birmingham.
Professor Helen Higson OBE DL, Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management in Aston Business School
Helen was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Aston University. She is now Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management in Aston Business School. Helen is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE and a National Teaching Fellow. Her recent research, policy and consultancy work includes intercultural training, developing employability and skills development, facilitating a coaching culture, and closing the degree attainment gap. She was Vice Chair of the SRHE Board and is currently Chair of Navitas UK.
Professor Sir Richard Blundell CBE FBA, David Ricardo Chair of Political Economy at University College London
Professor Sir Richard Blundell, CBE FBA holds the David Ricardo Chair of Political Economy at University College London where he was appointed Professor of Economics in 1984.
He was the founding Director of the ESRC Centre for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy (CPP) at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) IFS where he was Research Director 1986 – 2016 and is currently Co-Director and Research Fellow at IFS CPP. He was Knighted in the 2014 New Years Honours list for services to Economics and Social Science; he was awarded the CBE in 2006.