The Productivity Institute

National Productivity Week is back for 2026!

From 27 April – 1 May, join researchers, policymakers, and business leaders for a nationwide programme focused on improving productivity and delivering better outcomes for people, firms, and places.

Find out more below. ⬇️

NI Productivity Dashboard page 1.

NI Productivity Dashboard page 2.

Has Northern Ireland’s productivity growth stalled?

Today we’ve launched the 2025 edition of our Northern Ireland Productivity Dashboard, written with Ruth Donaldson, Seán McDonald, and @profjohnturner.bsky.social

National Productivity Week 2026 - Better outcomes for people, firms and places - The Productivity Institute National Productivity Week will return from 27 April – 1 May 2026 for a nationwide programme of events focused on improving productivity and delivering better outcomes for people, firms and places.

We are delighted to announce National Productivity Week is back 27 Apr – 1 May 2026, focusing on how productivity improvements can lead to better outcomes for people, firms and places.

Learn more: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/nationa...

#NPW2026

Budget 2025: Hyperactive Incrementalism and the Missing Long View - The Productivity Institute The 2025 UK Budget had a glaring absence of any long-term economic strategy for growth and investment.

More Budget chat - from @drdarcyluke.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, Dave Richards, Patrick Diamond and me for @productivity.bsky.social
Smorgasbords, Pick n Mix, Sticking Plasters etc

www.productivity.ac.uk/news/budget-...

Short piece on the Budget for @productivity.bsky.social

In summary, a water-treading, short-termist and incremental Budget.

A missed opportunity for more substantial measures that might drive productivity & growth.

Budget 2025: Hyperactive Incrementalism and the Missing Long View - The Productivity Institute The 2025 UK Budget had a glaring absence of any long-term economic strategy for growth and investment.

Following yesterday’s Budget, TPI’s @andywestwood.bsky.social @profdaverichards.bsky.social @drdarcyluke.bsky.social @samwarner.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond share insights on the government’s approach to growth and productivity.

Read more: bit.ly/3JVRkLi

❓ Curious what the Chancellor’s #Budget means for productivity?

Dive into Bart van Ark’s (@bartvanark.bsky.social) initial reaction and key insights as the Director of The Productivity Institute (@productivity.bsky.social). 👇

🧵1/ @alliancembs.bsky.social @manchester.ac.uk

TPI’s @teraallas.bsky.social on #Budget:
“As expected, OBR cut its labour productivity growth forecast from 1.3% to 1.0%. Still above post-COVID 0% and pre-COVID (Q12010-Q42019) 0.5% pa average. Forecasting productivity growth is tough, but OBR may need to trim its forecast at future fiscal events.”

Productivity Puzzles: Will We Get a Productive Budget? The Chancellor’s Budget is on the horizon. Will it bring higher taxes, deeper cuts, or more borrowing? Does the Budget really matter for productivity? And how does productivity shape the Budget? ...

Will today's #Budget boost productivity?
Get a head start on how the budget will impact productivity: podfollow.com/productivity...

@bartvanark.bsky.social is joined by @teraallas.bsky.social (@alliancembs.bsky.social), Louise Hellem (CBI) & @econstevem.bsky.social (@niesrorg.bsky.social).

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute What we need is a long-term focus, stability, and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity.

Will today's #Budget boost productivity?
@bartvanark.bsky.social argues for smarter investment, structural reforms & policy stability to drive long-term growth.
🔗 www.productivity.ac.uk/news/will-we...

#Productivity #Growth #Policy

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute Does the Budget really matter for productivity? And how does productivity shape the Budget?

🎧 If you want an in-depth discussion on how the Budget could impact productivity, listen to the latest episode of Productivity Puzzles.
👉 www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/will...

🧵(2/2)

@alliancembs.bsky.social #Budget2025

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute What we need is a long-term focus, stability, and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity.

Budget day is fast approaching.

The UK needs a long-term focus, stability, and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity, says Bart van Ark (@bartvanark.bsky.social) in a new policy commentary for TPI (@productivity.bsky.social) 👇
www.productivity.ac.uk/news/will-we...

🧵1/

Does increasing growth in the long run mean making politically difficult decisions in the short term? podfollow.com/productivity...

This special Budget episode features Louise Hellem (CBI), @teraallas.bsky.social (@alliancembs.bsky.social) & @econstevem.bsky.social (@niesrorg.bsky.social).

I think this broad idea that we need to spend more on the NHS is misleading and is potentially quite dangerous ... I think it's about the mix of how we spend the money, not adding more money.

#Budget day is on Wednesday - does the UK need to invest more money in the NHS? @teraallas.bsky.social provides her expertise on the latest Productivity Puzzles ep.: podfollow.com/productivity...
The ep. also features @econstevem.bsky.social & Louise Hellem, alongside host @bartvanark.bsky.social.

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute What we need is a long-term focus, stability, and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity.

Some #WeekendReading ahead of #BudgetDay - this is a test of the UK’s commitment to long-term productivity growth, writes @bartvanark.bsky.social: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/will-we...
The government has repeatedly pledged to raise productivity. Now is the moment to shift from promises to delivery.

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute Does the Budget really matter for productivity? And how does productivity shape the Budget?

For an in-depth Budget discussion, listen to the latest ep. of Productivity Puzzles, w/ @teraallas.bsky.social (@alliancembs.bsky.social), @econstevem.bsky.social (@niesrorg.bsky.social) & Louise Hellem (CBI): www.productivity.ac.uk/podcast/will...

#Budget #Budget2025 #Productivity #Policy #Podcast

Will We Get a Productive Budget? - The Productivity Institute What we need is a long-term focus, stability, and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity.

Budget day is fast approaching. The UK needs a long-term focus, stability and confidence to invest in the true drivers of productivity, says @bartvanark.bsky.social in a new policy commentary: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/will-we...

#Budget #Budget2025 #Productivity #Growth #Policy #Podcast

We're delighted to be working with partners @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk & @productivity.bsky.social on how productivity & economic considerations can help develop & deploy AI from an ethical and legal standpoint, thanks to a Responsible AI grant.

🏆 We're proud to share that Professor Philip McCann from @productivity.bsky.social has received the Walter Isard Award, the top honour in regional economics from the North American Regional Science Association 👏

🔗 Read more: www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/news/profess...
@alliancembs.bsky.social

Does increasing growth in the long run mean making politically difficult decisions in the short term? podfollow.com/productivity...

This special Budget episode features Louise Hellem (CBI), @teraallas.bsky.social (@alliancembs.bsky.social) & @econstevem.bsky.social (@niesrorg.bsky.social).

Philip McCann receives Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement - The Productivity Institute Philip McCann has become only the sixth non-North American scholar to win the Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement.

Prof Philip McCann (TPI & @alliancembs.bsky.social) has received the Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement. The award recognises Philip's significant contributions to the field of regional science.

Find out more: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/philip-...

#productivity #regions #economics

Listen to The Productivity Institute's new podcast delving into some big questions around the Chancellor's Autumn Budget 🎧

We are very much hoping that this forthcoming Budget can actually reduce the amount of uncertainty that we've seen of late.

Reducing uncertainty should be a core aim of next week's Budget. @econstevem.bsky.social from @niesrorg.bsky.social is on the latest ep. of Productivity Puzzles, w/ @bartvanark.bsky.social, Louise Hellem (CBI) & @teraallas.bsky.social from @alliancembs.bsky.social: podfollow.com/productivity...

If there's a credible long-term plan to raise the productive output of the country, then that seeps into the tone of the business environment.

How might the Budget impact the productive output of the UK? Long-term planning can help the business environment, says @teraallas.bsky.social on the new episode of Productivity Puzzles: podfollow.com/productivity...

#podcast #productivity #Budget #Budget2025 #growth

With the budget happening next week, I was able to discuss the links between the budget and productivity on this podcast hosted by @bartvanark.bsky.social together with the excellent @teraallas.bsky.social and Louise Hellem. Well worth a listen! @niesrorg.bsky.social @jagjitchadha.bsky.social

Productivity Puzzles: Will We Get a Productive Budget? The Chancellor’s Budget is on the horizon. Will it bring higher taxes, deeper cuts, or more borrowing? Does the Budget really matter for productivity? And how does productivity shape the Budget? ...

Budget day is just around the corner, but will it be a productive Budget? 🧩 On this new episode of Productivity Puzzles, @bartvanark.bsky.social is joined by @teraallas.bsky.social, Louise Hellem & @econstevem.bsky.social: podfollow.com/productivity...
#Budget #productivity #podcast

Philip McCann receives Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement - The Productivity Institute Philip McCann has become only the sixth non-North American scholar to win the Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement.

Prof Philip McCann (TPI & @alliancembs.bsky.social) has received the Walter Isard Award for Scholarly Achievement. The award recognises Philip's significant contributions to the field of regional science.

Find out more: www.productivity.ac.uk/news/philip-...

#productivity #regions #economics

Happy to join a panel next Wednesday, 19th November, to discuss this important topic on wellbeing and productivity. The event will be held online.

💭 Interested in wellbeing and workplace productivity? Join our online discussion on 19 November 6-7:30pm in conjunction with @resmedia.bsky.social and The University of Glasgow.

Register via emailing: socsi-events@glasgow.ac.uk

@francescafolia1.bsky.social has contributed to this House of Lords Committee report, providing evidence from ESCoE work on how time allocation between activities differs between remote and office workers.

Read more about this work with @productivity.bsky.social & ONS: tinyurl.com/32vtuz43