Powering UK Productivity – some reflections
Powering UK Productivity – some reflections
The UK’s productivity challenge is well-documented. To address this, we must rethink our approach to skills, workforce efficiency, and the ‘cost of failure’. Having contributed to the Open University’s recent report on productivity, I’ve been thinking more on this topic and getting ever more determined in my view that that skills investment and lean principles hold the key to sustainable growth.
We must accept that the UK’s productivity lag isn’t going away without a shift in how we develop skills. Skills investment and lean principles are crucial to change our national productivity story. I recall Jim Collins, in Good to Great, which explains that high-performing organisations thrive by building conditions for disciplined productivity. The UK needs to adopt this mindset: skills aren’t just “nice-to-have” but are fundamental for efficiency and resilience.
The big thing we need to also be much more conscious of is The ‘cost of failure’ in our organisation and this is about much more than money. It includes lost innovation, decreased agility, and wasted time. Being lean isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about minimising inefficiencies and maximising value. Investing in skills reduces costly setbacks.
Lest not forget that small, ongoing skill improvements add up and also remember the Author Stephen Covey’s advice to “sharpen the saw” calls us to keep skills current. A well-trained workforce boosts productivity, preparing the UK for future demands.
Boosting efficiency doesn’t just help organisations; it powers the economy. By supporting skills and continuous learning, the UK can build a workforce that drives growth and strengthens our global standing.
A skilled, lean-focused workforce is a must for reducing the ‘cost of failure’ and unlocking new productivity. As I shared in the Open University report, bridging the skills gap is a strategic necessity. With lean principles and smart skills investments, the UK can transform its productivity landscape, ensuring our workforce is ready for tomorrow.
