Welcome to WTF? Writing a few wrongs

Kicking off soon…………..

A series of blogs based initially upon objectively gained intelligence from Vector Research’s 25 year traverse of UK life as we know it (and sometimes didn’t know it). Plus occasional opiniated stuff from the blogger-in-chief (which will be clearly marked as such!). Starting this autumn with a couple of issues which could do with an airing……..

Midlands Engine - Is there anbody there?

Some legitimate observations on what we nicknamed the Marie Celeste of regional development. An organisation with a brief for regional development and levelling-up operating without footsoldiers? Does that matter? And has it made a difference thus far? We have asked a few people. Blog/report coming shortly……..

January 2024 - 10th Anniversary of Channel 4’s launch of Benefits St

Time to remind the publicly-owned Channel (and Benefits St apologists in the tabloid media) of its grotesque misrepresentation of a not untypical terraced melting pot neighbourhood - using Vector’s evidence from extensive research in that very street. Such neighbourhoods have a diverse mix of households - achievers, grafters, strugglers (and yes, wasters) are all there - but not just a handful of paid exhibitionists. I may have been a dog with a bone on this very issue since 2013 - but I want one final blast at getting a response from C4!

There will be plenty more to follow on a range of subjects - poverty, planning and transport, employment & skills, the arts, leisure & sport, minority groups - and the good the bad and the ugly of trying to make a difference through research over 25 years. Do come and join the discussion.

Above views are my own, wholly my own and nothing but my own

(S. Paul Baker Sept 2023)