Rebecca Riley

Professor Rebecca Riley is a leading academic at the University of Birmingham's Birmingham Business School, where she serves as Professor of Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact. She is Co-Director of City-REDI (City Region Economic Development Institute) and Director of the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub, driving impactful research on regional economies, policy, and evidence-based decision-making.

Her research expertise lies in regional economic development, skills policy, economic forecasting, and impact evaluation. She employs mixed methods and has delivered over 200 applied research projects for public and private sector clients. Her work is deeply interdisciplinary, bridging economics, policy, and social research, with a strong emphasis on real-world application and stakeholder engagement.

Recent publications reveal a consistent focus on place-based economic development, Covid-19 recovery, megatrends, skills gaps, and the role of universities in civic life. Her articles highlight a systemic approach to understanding city-regions and a commitment to translating research into actionable intelligence for policymakers.

• 2022 QR funding – Business Digital Twin partnership programme development (PI)
• 2021 QR Review of future trends and future of cities (PI)
• 2020 Commonwealth Games evaluation Support, DCMS (PI)
• 2019 ESRC IAA awards for LEP data support (PI)
• 2017 Industrial Strategy Secondment to Cabinet Office (PI)
• WMREDI case study featured as best practice by The British Academy (2021)

Professor Riley is a champion of research impact and evidence use in policy. She has advised numerous government bodies and regional agencies, and her leadership in establishing City-REDI has created a significant platform for academic-policy collaboration. She is also the founder of the West Midlands Data, Research, Evaluation, Analysis and Monitoring Group and chairs the National HM Treasury Green Book User Group, demonstrating her influence in shaping evaluation frameworks and public spending decisions.

She leads a hybrid academic-professional team at City-REDI, fostering a culture of knowledge exchange and impact. Her work is central to the university's civic mission and its engagement with regional and national economic development challenges.