Policy@Manchester Articles

Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Policy@Manchester Articles
Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
windmills at sea

Skills shortage: The biggest challenge to offshore wind in 2021

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

If we want to support the increased electrification of transport and heat proposed in the Energy White Paper, this will require a radical change in the management of our energy economy. Managing and driving this new economy requires the development of a skilled workforce. The problem is, it’s not clear where the skills will come […]

A man turns wooden number blocks to reveal the phrase '2021 BUDGET' against a black background

The Levelling-up Budget?

By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Budget, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, News Posted:

The Conservative Government’s 2019 general election manifesto included a promise to ‘listen to the people who have felt left behind’. There was also a commitment in the Budget 2020 to drive economic growth sustainably and improve living standards by boosting productivity and levelling up skills across the UK, along with future commitments to increase investment […]

A male nurse wipes the arm of a young man who is about to receive a vaccination

Area-based vaccination would better protect against COVID-19

By and Filed Under: All posts, Ethnicity, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

The early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the UK have been a remarkable success from many perspectives: we have one of the highest rates of vaccination per capita, high uptake, and the government has met its first vaccination target. However, this rollout has taken place amidst a devastating surge of COVID-19 deaths, and […]

COVID-19 and social inequality: Developing community-centred interventions

Patty Doran author headshotTine Buffelluciana LangMhorag Goff By , , , , and Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion, Health and Social Care Posted:

On January 13 2021, it was reported that more than 100,000 people had died from coronavirus in the UK, with the figure for that day alone being 1,546 deaths. The UK has one of the worst coronavirus mortality rates in the world, at 151 per 100,000 people but now the roll-out of the vaccination is […]

The hydrogen economy: why is the sub-surface essential?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Government has made a commitment to deliver a hydrogen economy as a means to decarbonise heating and heavy transport. This was most recently highlighted in the Government’s “Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution” and the recent Energy White Paper “Powering our net zero future”. In this blog, Professor Kevin Taylor, from the […]

A child playing with language blocs to show language diversity

From celebration to public policy: International Mother Language Day as a civic identity badge

Yaron MatrasDaniele Viktor LeggioRebecca Tipton By , and Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted:

On 21 February 2021, Manchester will again be celebrating UNESCO International Mother Language Day (IMLD). This year’s activities will be held online to accommodate to the pandemic conditions. For the second time, they are being coordinated by the City of Literature initiative based in Manchester’s local authority. In this blog, Professor Yaron Matras, Dr Daniele […]

Student with tutor in one to one tutorial

Filling a youth-shaped gap in the FE White Paper: Reducing inequalities in post-16 progression

Ruth Lupton By , , and Filed Under: All posts, Education, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted:

The new Further Education (FE) White Paper claims its proposals will transform post-16 education and training in England. It acknowledges that not enough people develop technical skills at Level 3 and above. Yet it has nothing to say about the thousands of young people who do not progress smoothly from GCSEs to Level 3 programmes. […]

How can we drive businesses to deliver on Net Zero?

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Urban Posted:

Nearly a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions are generated by businesses. With global emissions expected to be just 4% lower than in 2019, urgent action is required across all sectors to achieve net zero goals. But how can we push businesses to sustainability when their bottom line is at stake? Here, Professor Jonatan Pinkse, […]

Inequalities in ageing: health disadvantages amongst ethnic minority groups

By and Filed Under: All posts, Ethnicity, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on most ethnic minority groups in England. But this inequality is a crisis within a crisis – the pandemic has laid bare and exacerbated existing deep-rooted health inequalities. Here, Dr Ruth Watkinson and Dr Alex Turner, from the Health Organisation, Policy and Economics group (HOPE) and the […]

A woman works on a computer at a desk with a child sat in her lap

Why parents need the right to stay home without risk to their income or jobs when schools are closed

Jill Rubery By and Filed Under: All posts, Education, Growth and Inclusion Posted:

Under the UK government’s furlough scheme, parents can be placed on furlough if they have caring responsibilities for a child who is at home as a result of school closures. However, a parent’s request for furlough depends upon the agreement of their employer, which is not always forthcoming. In this blog, Dr Isabel Tavora and […]

Become a contributor

Would you like to write for us on a public policy issue? Get in touch with a member of the team, ask for our editorial guidelines, or access our online training toolkit (UoM login required).

Disclaimer

Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

Policy@Manchester

Manchester Policy Articles is an initiative from Policy@Manchester. Visit our web site to find out more

Contact Us

policy@manchester.ac.uk
t: +44 (0) 161 275 3038
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK