Issues 5 & 6, 2010

Welcome to the Fifth and Sixth editions of the Humber Economic Partnership's monthly email alerting service, Humber Intelligence , covering May and June of 2010. Due to many think tanks focussing on new Government policy and the Emergency Budget, coupled with the political restrictions amongst Governmental Departments, there was a shortage of relevant research and intelligence released in May. We therefore decided to couple the previous two months bulletins into one.

This e-mail is designed to keep you up to date on the latest research studies, policy developments and intelligence releases affecting the Hull and Humber Ports City Region.

We hope you find this publication of interest and welcome your feedback. Your views are important to us. The next edition will be circulated in August 2010. 

Zero Carbon Britain 2030 – A new energy strategy

Released by the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), this comprehensive report examines how Britain can meet its electricity and heating requirements through efficient service provision, whilst still decreasing its carbon emissions. It brings together current thinking across a range of sectors covering energy, transport, land use, the built environment and industry in order to identify the potential for “Powering Down” through reduced demand and “Powering Up” renewables to 100 percent of our national energy by 2030.

To access the report, follow this link: http://www.zerocarbonbritain.org/ 

Provisional Port Statistics 2009

The Department for Transport (DfT) has released the provisional port statistics for 2009. Provisional figures show that total freight traffic through UK ports fell by 9.5 percent in 2009 compared to figures for 2008. Figures show that throughput at the combined Humber Ports fell by around 16 percent in 2009 on the previous year. At 76.7 million tonnes, the Humber Ports handled just over 14 million tonnes less in 2009 than in 2008. The Finalised statistics for 2009 are due for release in September 2010.

To access the data and a statistical bulletin, follow this link: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/maritime/ports/provportstats2009 

The Seaside Tourist Industry in England and Wales: Employment, economic output, location and trends

Released by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University, this report presents new figures on the scale of the tourist industry in England and Wales. It provides local figures on seaside tourism employment for 121 individual resorts around the coast, including Bridlington, Cleethorpes, Hornsea, Withernsea and the holiday park at Skipsea. It estimates that seaside tourism in England and Wales supports some 210,000 jobs, spread across six sectors of the local economy. The report concludes that, despite popular opinion of a decline in seaside tourism in England and Wales, as a result of foreign holiday destinations, the industry is alive and well and has experienced employment growth of the past 10 years.

To Access the report directly, follow this link:  http://www.shu.ac.uk/_assets/pdf/cresr-seaside-tourism-report.pdf 

Age Matters: realising the potential of an ageing population

Released by Yorkshire Futures, which commissioned Experian, this report considers the implications of growth in groups of ‘older’ people, from people over 50 still in work or wishing to work, to elderly people over 85 who may have a greater need for social care and health services. The report details the growing trend of an ageing population and the future opportunities and challenges this presents in the Yorkshire and Humber region. It details the contribution that older people make to the regional economy and presents a number of examples of good practice already in place. It concludes by identifying six strategic priorities for the region.

To access the report, including a summary document, follow this link:  http://www.yorkshirefutures.com/news/age-matters-realising-potential-ageing-population 

A Theoretical Review of Skill Shortages and Skill Needs: Evidence Report 20

This report has been commissioned jointly by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) and the Migration Advisory Committee (MAS). It aims to improve understanding of the labour market and the ability of the labour market to supply the skills that employers need. In doing so, it discusses the theories for explaining skills shortages and offers some suggestions of how skills shortages can be measured.

To access the report, follow this link:  http://www.ukces.org.uk/reports/a-theoretical-review-of-skill-shortages-and-skill-needs-evidence-report-20 

Poorer children’s educational attainment: how important are attitudes and behaviour?

This report has been released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). It examines the extent to which affluence and disadvantage influence educational attainment. To do this it uses a number of sources of data and focuses on aspirations, attitudes, and behaviour in an attempt to increase understanding amongst different age groups of children growing up in the UK today, from early childhood, through to late adolescence.

To access the report, including a summary document, follow this link: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/educational-attainment-poor-children 

Credit and debt in low-income families

This study has also been released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). It reports the experiences of credit and debt for families on low incomes over a twelve month period during recession, the credit crunch, increased unemployment and rising household costs. It examines how people on low incomes manage credit and debt and how this debt is defined and experienced over time by low income households.

To access the report, including a summary document, follow this link:  http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/credit-debt-low-incomes-families 

Contact

For further information or to feedback on the Humber Intelligence, please contact Dominic Chapman on 01482 596781 or email dchapman@humberep.co.uk