Social divisions growing despite Covid bringing communities together - report

West Midlands people feel social divisions have increased during the Covid-19 crisis, according to a new report.

PwC 's latest Future of Government research, Rethinking Levelling-Up, surveyed 4,000 people across the UK and found that, while communities have become more important to people during the pandemic, 44 per cent of people feel that social divisions have increased.

While 38 per cent of those polled say their local community has become more important to them, and 39 per cent agree that the pandemic brought their community together, a greater number feel that it has increased social divisions in every region, with the West Midlands (55 per cent) among the regions feeling the strongest divisions.

The public feel a sense of geographical inequality, with 52 per cent of people feeling there is too much inequality in the UK and 47 per cent are concerned about the inequalities between London and the rest of the UK.

Nationally, 39 per cent of people say their area has been treated fairly by central government in the pandemic. This falls in the North West where only 29 per cent feel their area has been treated fairly but climbs as high as 45 per cent in the West Midlands and East of England.

Despite concerns around geographical inequality, the UK public are generally happy to recommend their area as a place to live, with more than half of those polled (62 per cent) willing to recommend their local areas to live in and raise a family.

However, only 36 per cent would encourage anyone to start a business in their area.

People are most likely to recommend their area to live in Northern Ireland (69 per cent), the South West (68 per cent) and the East of England (67 per cent), with London and the West Midlands being less favourable at 57 per cent.

The best regions to start a business in the eyes of the general public are at either ends of England - the North East (42 per cent) and London (41 per cent).

This drops to 38 per cent in the West Midlands and 34 per cent in the East Midlands.

The public supports the Government 's aim to level up the UK and wants housing, vibrant high streets, jobs and skills to top the agenda.

Housing is the standout priority for the West Midlands public with 67 per cent saying a focus on housing (supply and quality) would be most effective in levelling up the country and reducing inequality.

Jobs and skills for the future are also a big focus for the West Midlands public, as 47 per cent would like to see levelling up focus on creating more better paid jobs and 49 per cent highlight investment in skills for the future.

Matthew Hammond (pictured), Midlands region leader at PwC, said: “COVID-19 has led people to refocus on what really matters to their everyday lives.

“'Levelling up ' has become synonymous with big infrastructure projects including HS2, the economic impact of the Commonwealth Games and connectivity expenditure.

“The broader narrative in relation to levelling up in the eyes of localities and communities will need to be more tangible with visible investment in local places, jobs, skills and homes.

“A year of many people living and working at home has recalibrated what is of local and regional importance.

“Demonstrable gains for local communities in the short and medium term will be the turning point. ”