Oxford Brookes Business School is part of a new institute that will boost ground-breaking research to explore how to increase productivity, boost wages and support the economic recovery across the UK, backed by a £37 million government investment.
The Productivity Institute is based at the University of Manchester and will identify barriers to increase productivity levels across the UK following the coronavirus crisis. Over 40 researchers from leading UK institutions are working directly with policy makers and businesses to examine the UK’s productivity levels and the issues that impact productivity, such as working from home, workers’ well-being and lack of diversity in the workplace to identify key policies that could be implemented to unlock growth and deliver jobs.
Tim Vorley, Professor of Industry, Enterprise and Innovation, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Oxford Brookes Business School, said: “Productivity remains an urgent challenge for the UK, and especially in a post-Covid world. Finding and then breaking the barriers to productivity down will help drive up economic growth and improve people’s standard of living. The Institute has the potential to impact on all of our lives with its work – we’re delighted to be part of this.”
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “Improving productivity is central to driving forward our long-term economic recovery and ensuring that we level up wages and living standards across every part of the UK. The new Productivity Institute will bring together the very best of our researchers, boosting our understanding of the different drivers of productivity and helping people and businesses earn more in every area of our economy.”