New report: Powering up productivity

Low productivity has been the Achilles' heel of the UK economy for the past 15 years, lagging behind other major economies. With growth high on the new UK Government agenda, solving the ‘productivity puzzle’ is essential. But it’s also hugely important for employers. The Open University’s new report – Powering up productivity – is based on a survey of 500 business leaders and reveals that one in four organisations report their productivity has actually worsened in the last five years and three in four say raising productivity is a medium or high priority.

Improving productivity provides different benefits to different employers – whether they large private sector companies looking to increase profits, public sector organisations trying to provide more efficient services, or even a small business owner trying to improve their work/life balance.

In the report, Anthony Impey, CEO of Be the Business, states that: "Productivity is about good growth: increasing sales but not increasing costs at the same rate. But it is also about giving business leaders their time back so they don’t have to spend every waking hour working in their business."

High productivity does not simply mean working staff harder. With the help of a number of experts, the report explains how productivity can be measured and how investment in people, skills and technology can unlock better use of resources and deliver success.

Download report - Powering up productivity

Every issue is a people issue.

No organisation, large or small, can win over the longer term without engaged loyal staff who believe in the mission.
Safaraz Ali
Open University Entrepreneur in Residence and CEO and founder of the Pathway Group

Solving the productivity puzzle is vital for every employer’s future success and this report investigates why this challenge remains unsolved at a business level.

Increasing productivity isn’t about working employees harder for longer hours or simply recruiting more staff. With the help of a number of experts, we look at the importance of skills, employee wellbeing, technology and equality, diversity and inclusion in the workforce as key levers to improving productivity. At The Open University, we have worked with many organisations to address these areas and I have seen at first hand the results employers enjoy when they invest in people, skills and technology.”
Viren Patel
Director of Employers and Partnerships at The Open University