Manchester Policy Blogs

Getting gender on the devolution agenda

By Francesca Gains Filed Under: All posts, Devo Posted: January 2, 2020

In this blog, Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy and Co-Director of Policy@Manchester, discusses the importance of including women’s voices and their experiences (in all their diversity) in devolved policymaking. As the Greater Manchester Combined Authority refreshes its strategy (Our People, Our Place) and other combined authorities develop their local strategies, it will be crucial […]

The true price of fashion

By Patsy Perry Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: December 17, 2019

About to embark on one more festive shopping spree? Perhaps you should think twice before buying yet another Christmas jumper for loved ones this holiday season… In this blog, Dr Patsy Perry – Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing, invites you to spare a thought for the environmental consequences of fashion as she examines the damaging […]

Graphenes innovation could give UK economy a positive charge

By Craig Dawson Filed Under: Science and Engineering Posted: December 10, 2019

This week, The University of Manchester is hosting a Graphene Industry Showcase. Ahead of this Dr Craig Dawson – Application Manager at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre shines a light on how, as the UK looks to build a globally leading carbon neutral economy, The University of Manchester is providing an innovation flagship for energy […]

Climate Change: Should we take the nuclear option?

By William Bodel Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: November 28, 2019

In this blog, William Bodel a post-doctoral research associate at the Dalton Nuclear Institute at The University of Manchester, looks at the future of low-carbon energy generation in the UK to see whether nuclear energy should support the UK Government’s climate change commitments. Concerns around climate change, and the political drive to achieve net-zero greenhouse […]

Does fathers’ involvement in childcare influence mothers’ employment post-childbirth?

By Helen Norman Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 12, 2019

In October 2019, the Government Equalities Office published three pieces of research on the barriers to women’s progression. In this blog, Dr Helen Norman, Research Fellow in Sociology, discusses some of the findings in relation to her own research into the impact of paternal involvement in childcare on mothers’ employment trajectories during the early stages […]

Community resilience – Are we unable to deal with power cuts?

By Matthias Noebels and Mathaios Panteli Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: November 11, 2019

In this blog, Matthias Noebels and Mathaios Panteli from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Manchester discuss, motivated by the recent UK wide power cut in August 2019, the need in the UK to think beyond electricity infrastructure resilience to be able to handle such events in the future. In August […]

Can we reduce water demand to 80 litres a day? And what can the government do to support it?

By Claire Hoolohan and Alison Browne Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: November 4, 2019

In a recent consultation, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) requested evidence on measures to reduce personal water use. In this blog Dr Claire Hoolohan, a research fellow at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Dr Alison Browne, a senior lecturer in Geography explore ways in which the UK Government […]

Migrants, Asylum Seekers and the NHS: Reasons for ending the ‘Hostile Healthcare Environment’

By Louise Tomkow Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care Posted: October 30, 2019

Dr Louise Tomkow is a Geriatric Registrar in the Northwest deanery. She has recently completed a PhD, exploring migration and health at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute. She will begin a 4-year Older People and Complex Health Needs NIHR Clinical Lectureship at The University of Manchester in April 2020. This blog accompanies her recently-published paper in […]

The darker politics of wellbeing: the managerial abuse of ‘positive’ interventions at work

By Miguel Martinez Lucio Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted: October 24, 2019

In this blog, Miguel Martínez Lucio, Professor in the Work and Equalities Institute and the Alliance Manchester Business School at The University of Manchester, discusses the ‘individualised’ approach to worker wellbeing and argues for a more collective approach that recognises the seriousness of mental health. Changing agendas in the workplace continue to undermine the regulatory […]

Innovation: why we need to fail more often, in order to succeed

By James Baker Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 24, 2019

In this blog James Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Graphene@Manchester, explores the UK approach to innovation and finding the next ‘Big Thing’ to stay competitive at a global level. North America continue to produce a succession pioneers who have delivered innovation through highly disruptive products and services. The UK approach to innovation is different with […]