Blogs From The Blackstuff

The online blogs of Professor David Bailey of Coventry University Business School and John Clancy, Visiting Lecturer at the University of Birmingham Business School, have been provocative and lively part of the Birmingham Post website for some time. Here is the first volume of their blogs from 2008-2010.

John Clancy analyses the make up and extent of the UK's 100 Local Government Pension Funds and makes the case for re-wiring their investments back into the regional economies from which they come.

How has the recession impacted on firms, people and places? How have local and regional authorities responded? This book aims to answer these questions by offering an overview of the impacts of the recession on people and places and how it has affected local authorities in the UK and other OECD countries. The volume makes a fresh contribution to understanding local economic development and governance by providing a unique perspective and original data on the way local authorities have dealt with the recent economic shock across countries.

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008 and the ensuing Great Recession of 2008 to 2013, the economic debate has begun to shift towards 'rebalancing' the UK economy, away from an over-reliance upon consumerism and the financial sector to generate growth, towards more sustainable productive activities. The fallout from the financial crisis exposed the systemic failings of the dominant neo-liberal model to deliver balanced growth and there is now increasing recognition this 'rebalancing' might best be achieved through the state pursuing an active 'industrial policy'. Thus, after a long hiatus, industrial policy is back in vogue at regional, national, and EU levels driven by concerns over competitiveness, globalisation, de-industrialisation, unemployment, and the comparatively slow growth of the British and EU economies especially in this post-recession phase. At the same time, industrial policy has been seen as a catalyst for designing economic recovery strategies at regional, national, and EU levels as well as being a concerted strategy to develop new 'clean-tech' industries to tackle environmental challenges. This book brings together leading European based experts, each with a long standing interest in industrial policy. The chapters offer a broad set of perspectives on the many facets of industrial policy, including reflections upon past experiences of industrial policy (from across the globe) and critical analysis and advice upon contemporary UK industrial policy issues. They aim to critically inform and challenge policy-makers, policy think-tanks, industrialists, trade unions, academics, and other stakeholders in framing the future course for industrial policy in the UK, and indeed more widely.

At a time when debates about social inequality are in the spotlight, it is worth examining how the two most popular media of the 20th and 21st centuries--film and television--have shaped the representation of social classes. How do generic conventions determine the representation of social stereotypes? How do filmmakers challenge social class identification? How do factors such as national history, geography and gender affect the representation of social classes? This collection of new essays explores these and other questions through an analysis of a wide range of American and British productions--from sitcoms and reality TV to documentaries and auteur cinema--from the 1950s to the present.

Marketing is one of the most important aspects in business today, but it’s also highly competitive and complicated, with intricate strategies and methods of delivery to understand and retain. This straight-forward guide leads you through every aspect of marketing. Fully updated to include all the recent marketing trends, including digital marketing and using new media, it’s packed with expert tips on identifying customers, using online resources, satisfying your customer’s needs and boosting your sales. Discover how to: Understand the basics of effective marketing Research customers, competitors and industry Create a compelling marketing strategy Increase consumer awareness Satisfy clients’ needs and boost sales

Written by a team of business and finance experts, Starting & Running a Business All-In-One For Dummies is a complete guide to every aspect of setting up and growing a successful business. Featuring straight-talking advice on everything from business planning and marketing, managing staff and dealing with legal issues, to bookkeeping and taking care of tax obligations, this book is your one-stop guide to turning your business plans into profit. With Starting and Running a Business All-In-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition , you'll discover how to: Identify new business opportunities Put together a business plan Find the money you need to get started Keep track of your finances -bookkeeping and forecasting Find, manage and retain good employees Deal with the legal aspects of running a business Market and sell your product Use new technology Grow and expand your business

Thirty million online UK customers are just a click away, and Digital Marketing For Dummies shows you how to reach them. The author team of internet and marketing experts introduce you to the latest high-impact tools and techniques so you can promote your business with creativity and innovation, and stand out from your competitors.