Helping productivity take off

Lancaster University Management School and BAE Systems are to host a Productivity through People event which will give Lancashire manufactures and engineers a sneak peek at ground-breaking technology.

On 28 September, SMEs have been invited to the Academy for Skills and Knowledge at Samlesbury, on September 28 to learn how the latest technology and engineering could benefit their own organisations’ productivity.

Attendees will have the chance to learn more about how they can enhance their own productivity by accessing cutting edge knowledge, best practice and innovative technology used by some of the industry’s giants.

A tour of the facilities will include a close look at equipment used to design, engineer and manufacture some of the most advanced technology in the world, including a robot capable of accuracies of 0.2mm, and the Virtual Reality Cave used as a simulated learning environment.

Richard Baker from Be the Business and Professor Nigel Lockett, the associate dean at Lancaster University Management School, will discuss addressing the UK's productivity problem.

Richard Baker said: “We all know productivity is a problem at a national level and a key part of the solution is embedding better management practices. The coalition behind the Productivity through People initiative has invested over £9m to date to energise a business-led response to the issue, and over the next three years we aim to encourage over 50,000 businesses to take action to improve their level of productivity.”

Professor Nigel Lockett added: “This programme offers entrepreneurs and SME leaders the chance to find out about the latest thinking and developments in industry, to build networks, establish mentors, empower their employees and transform their learning into improvements to their bottom lines, and with it, boost the region’s economy.”

The event is free to attend and will take place between 6pm – 8.30pm on 28 September 2017 at the Academy for Skills and Knowledge, within the Enterprise Zone in Samlesbury. Click here for details. The Productivity through People programme is currently recruiting 24 key decision makers for a 5 December 2017 start.