Latest news with #NICEIndex
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
MS reacts to report about Wales' economic position
MS for North Wales A new report has revealed that Wales ranks lowest in a comparative assessment of economic competitiveness across the regions of England and Wales. The NICE Index (Networks, Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship), developed by Professor Robert Huggins (Cardiff University) and Professor Piers Thompson (Nottingham Trent University), paints a troubling picture of Wales's economic position. The report places Wales below every English region, with many Welsh local authorities languishing at the foot of the league table. Prof Huggins said: 'Unfortunately, Wales remains economically cut off from many parts of the rest of the UK, indicating that despite some positive policy developments there is still much to do. "Our findings reveal that Welsh communities are not just struggling with physical infrastructure deficits in terms of transport and housing, they're suffering from profound behavioural barriers that prevent them from creating the networks, innovation, and entrepreneurial cultures essential for modern economic success.' He added: "We're not dealing with a simple infrastructure problem that can be solved by building roads or broadband networks, Welsh communities need behavioural interventions that help people rebuild confidence, create networks, and develop entrepreneurial cultures. "The UK Government has recently launched a new industrial strategy, and while this may produce some benefits for parts of Wales it will not address these more fundamental behavioural challenges." The report confirms what Welsh Conservatives have long stated, that under Labour our economy is broken in Wales and the only way it can fixed is by creating a Wales that is open for business. To achieve this, we would remove the regulatory stranglehold on our economy by overhauling the current business rates system, abolish rates for small businesses to revitalise our town centres, and axe the damaging Tourism tax. Meanwhile, another report, this time by the Bevan Foundation, has revealed that high childcare costs in Wales are pushing more families into poverty and out of work. The report concluded that the soaring cost of childcare is beyond the reach of many, with some families now limiting the number of children they are having due to costs. The UK Government has outlined proposals that by September 2025 it will extend 30 hours of free childcare to eligible working parents, for every child over the age of 9 months. It is disappointing that the Welsh Labour Government has not made this same commitment, despite receiving additional funding from the UK Government to match this – they should be supporting Welsh parents to stay in work and contribute to their communities. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
South Wales Argus
10-08-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Culture shift needed in Gwent, economic report suggests
The report evaluates the competitiveness in 330 local authorities in England and Wales across networks, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. It ranks all areas of Gwent below the UK average. Leading the way, Monmouthshire is ranked 100th nationally, the only Gwent authority with a positive NICE score. Its rural-urban character and economic links to more prosperous regions are likely to contribute to stronger networks and innovation. It demonstrates promise, albeit not enough to lift the wider regional picture. Newport follows at 239th, a concerning position given its urban scale, infrastructure, and strategic proximity to the M4 corridor and Bristol. Despite these advantages, the city struggles to build entrepreneurial momentum or cultivate robust business networks, the report shows. It report attributes this underperformance not merely to infrastructure limits but to behavioural and cultural problems. Newport ranks 239th in the listings (Image: NQ) Torfaen ranks 275th. Like Newport, it is geographically well-positioned, close to Cardiff and connected to key transport routes, yet finds itself mired in economic stagnation. Its NICE score of -0.14 reflects weak creative infrastructure and low engagement in innovation, entrepreneurship, and inter-business collaboration. The study suggests that these communities are failing to convert locational benefits into economic dynamism. Caerphilly ranks 290th, with a NICE score of -0.19. Despite bordering Cardiff, it shows little economic spillover. Limited business connectivity and an underdeveloped innovation culture hold it back. The area's economic foundations are described as fractured, lacking the behavioural structures needed to cultivate networks and entrepreneurship. Blaenau Gwent is ranked at 328, third from the bottom in the UK. The report calls it an 'innovation desert', where entrenched narratives of decline have created self-limiting mindsets. Rather than only dealing with infrastructure gaps, Blaenau Gwent is seen as a community trapped by behavioural inertia, disconnected from growth opportunities and collaboration networks. These rankings reflect broader economic patterns across Wales, but the specific results for Gwent carry an added sting. With Torfaen and Newport situated close to regional powerhouses and transportation arteries, their inability to leverage these advantages raises questions about local economic strategy, effectiveness and culture, the report suggests. The report concludes that such places are not hindered by geography, but by the absence of creative and entrepreneurial culture and the behavioural conditions that foster it. For local government in Wales, the NICE Index presents both a critique and a roadmap. Traditional infrastructure investment is no longer enough. Councils must address behavioural barriers: residents need confidence to innovate, collaborate, and create. Economic renewal, the report argues, depends not just on roads and broadband but on reshaping community outlook and ambition. The study recommends the integration of creativity and entrepreneurship into education, from schools to lifelong learning institutions. It urges councils to establish programmes that nurture local networks, support start-ups, and promote imaginative thinking across all age groups. Economic policy must shift toward enabling people, not just building things. It also calls for targeted investment coordinated by entities like the Council of the Nations and Regions, suggesting local authorities are best placed to lead behaviour-driven regeneration, provided they are supported with appropriate funding and strategic autonomy. Merthyr Tydfil, the lowest-ranked authority in the UK, is used in the report to illustrate how self-fulfilling prophecies of decline can take root. The lesson for Gwent is clear: even if the physical conditions for success exist, economic potential can be stifled by limited imagination and poor business culture. With the NICE Index making a strong link between its scores and gross value added per capita, the challenge for local government is no longer just about closing an investment gap, it's about nurturing a better business culture. Creating prosperity and stability will require all to think beyond infrastructure and to build the behavioural infrastructure that drives modern economic success, the report concludes. Welsh Government has been approached for a comment but has not yet made any public statement on the report.
