Network Gathering July 2026

What would an economy that works for everyone look like in Birmingham?

We want to rewire the economy so it works for people and to see good growth in every postcode.

That ambition from Andy Burnham in setting out an early agenda for his premiership helped kick off our latest Economic Justice Brum network gathering on 14 July.

It sounds good. But what would it actually mean in Birmingham?

What would our economy look like if it really was wired to work for everyone? What does “good growth” mean in a city where many communities haven’t benefited equally from previous waves of investment? And how can people across Birmingham have a meaningful say in what happens next?

Those questions shaped much of our conversation.

How is it going to be different this time?

Conrad Parke from Birmingham Anchor Network brought us up to date on plans for the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation, which will oversee major development stretching from the city centre eastwards.

The scale of the proposed investment is huge. And the promise is familiar: investment will create jobs and opportunities which will benefit people across Birmingham. Conrad took us back through some of the major investments that have transformed Birmingham city centre over the past 40 years. Much of that transformation has been welcome. But economic growth hasn’t automatically translated into falling poverty or greater prosperity for everyone. You don’t have to travel far from the city centre to find communities that haven’t experienced the benefits of that growth.

So with another major programme of investment ahead, we kept coming back to a simple question: How is it going to be different this time?

What should we measure?

That led into a much wider conversation about what we mean by economic success in the first place. If the aim is simply more investment, more jobs and a bigger economy, we risk missing other things that matter.

One question raised through the network was: why does the measure have to be increasing wealth? Why couldn’t it be decreasing poverty?

And what about the things that make somewhere a good place to live? Decent housing, education, health, transport and strong communities all form part of Birmingham’s economy too. As one contribution on the day put it:

Why do we treat the economy like a living, breathing thing and people like they’re expendable?

From asking questions to having influence

Our network gatherings over the past year have helped us build a better shared understanding of Birmingham’s economy and the decisions shaping it. Now we’re starting to think more about what we do with that understanding as a movement.

There were plenty of questions around the tables. Who actually holds power over these developments? Who influences the people making decisions? Who makes sure commitments around local jobs, social value and community benefit are kept? And where does accountability sit when responsibility is spread across councils, the Combined Authority, government, developers, universities and other institutions?

One suggestion was to map some of that power and influence more clearly.

But there was also a discussion about the role Economic Justice Brum could play.

We don’t want this to become a simple “them and us” conversation. The people in the room talked about Economic Justice Brum being a critical friend: willing to ask difficult questions and challenge where necessary, but also bringing ideas, experience and possible solutions to the table.

That means being clearer about who we are, what knowledge and experience the movement brings, and what we can offer to policymakers and others shaping Birmingham’s economic future.

And perhaps most importantly, finding ways for the voices and lived experience of people across Birmingham to be part of those conversations from the start, rather than asking afterwards whether growth reached them.

There is a lot still to work through. Decisions are being made now that could shape Birmingham for decades. If we’re serious about an economy that works for everyone, how do we make sure this time really is different?

Next Network Gathering

• Tuesday 29 September 2026
• 10.30am-2pm (Join us for refreshments from 10am & stay for lunch at 1pm)
• The Signing Tree Venue, Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, B16 8SZ

Everyone has a role to play in changing Birmingham’s economy. Whether you’re just starting to question the way things are, or you’ve been organising for years, you’re welcome to join us.

Background

Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation