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• Read Observations and keep up to date with the latest reports, research and policy affecting the West Midlands region, with commentary from Observatory staff.

• 30 September 2008
• We hosted a workshop earlier this month at Birmingham City University around NESTA's work to develop a regional innovation index. Presentations from the workshop are now available along with our submission to NESTA's call for ideas.

• 26 September 2008
• Key issues for employers and individuals and communities arising from our 2008 skills assessment work posted on Observations. Add your comments to the articles.

• 22 September 2008
• Presentations from last week's population changes seminar are available to download.

• 3 September 2008
• We're running a full-day seminar on new and emerging challenges of population change at the Observatory on 16 September 2008.

• 3 September 2008
• Book your place at our 2008 Annual Conference in Coventry, to be held on 13 October 2008. Headline speaker Regional Minister Liam Byrne MP will be launching the State of the Region synthesis report. Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

• 1 September 2008
• We're holding a competition, in association with ESRI, for school children to make a map of their local area, being as creative as they possibly can.

• 29 August 2008
• Updated Local Area Agreements 2008 for each the 14 authorities in the West Midlands are now available in the Resource Catalogue.

• 28 August 2008
• Update on a new study by Halcrow for Advantage West Midlands examining heat mapping and decentralised energy feasibility in the West Midlands.

• 22 August 2008
• The Register of Consultants is now live. To make this a useful resource, we need research consultants to submit their details (login required). You could be a research company, academic department or an individual consultant. As long as you provide research services that can benefit others in the West Midlands, you are welcome to join the Register.

• 21 August 2008
• New report and GIS data published from Halcrow's study of wind resources for the West Midlands.

• 15 August 2008
• Our Oracle Summer 2008 newsletter (PDF, 1.2MB) is now available featuring updates on new research activity in the West Midlands and at the Observatory.

• 19 June 2008
• E-business Support Directory launched to help small businesses identify sources of advice and assistance with the adoption of e-business technologies to help their business.

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• University challenge
  
  Our review of the West Midlands' knowledge economy and the demand for higher level skills, published 6th October 2008.

• Skills performance indicator framework for the West Midlands
  
  The indicators have been updated to reflect the 2007 review of performance.

• Graduate Retention, Attraction and Employment Study 2008
  
  Key findings (PDF, 324 KB) are available from our recent research into graduates and employers in the West Midlands.

• Economic Impact of Migrant Workers
  
  Full report, desk study and datasets are available from a new research project exploring the economic impact of migrant workers in the West Midlands.