Productivity programme launched to empower businesses

A 12-month Productivity through People course has been launched to help North West businesses learn from globally-renowned institutions.

The programme brings together top industrialists and academics to tackle the productivity puzzle in the North West’s key manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Experts from Lancaster University Management School, and world-class industrial partners BAE Systems, Siemens and Rolls Royce, are launching a second round of the programme, which is deeply embedded in research and provides small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a blueprint for growth.

Productivity through People, through enhancing leadership and management capability, helps SMEs understand the link between employee engagement, modern working practices and improved productivity. The unique design of the programme enables delegates to translate their learning into practical improvements for their business.

The programme’s pilot, which was launched in January 2017, has successfully delivered productivity gains for participating companies and the programme is now being replicated in other parts of the UK.

Aimed at manufacturing and engineering SMEs in the North West, the programme is currently recruiting 24 key decision makers for an Autumn 2017 start. Delegates will be exposed to world-class manufacturing excellence at BAE Systems, Siemens and Rolls Royce, including behind-the-scenes visits.

Each of these major manufacturers is investing, both finance and expertise, in the programme. In addition, the programme is further supported by Lancaster University and Lancashire Local Enterprise partnership. Therefore selected SMEs will be required to pay a nominal fee of £2,500 per delegate. The actual value per delegate of the programme is around £10,000.

Jan Metcalfe, Productivity through People Programme Director, said: “The objective is to support and invest in the manufacturers of tomorrow, giving access to the latest thinking, research, and frameworks. This will enable them to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of their business through developing leadership and management capability to transform working practices, and to help increase productivity through the empowerment of their workforce." There will be a series of half-day preview sessions for delegates interested in finding out more. 20th September, Lancaster House Hotel. Includes Masterclass with Juergen Maier, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens UK 28th September, BAE Systems Samlesbury, Preston. Includes tour of manufacturing facility 10th October, Abbey House Hotel, Barrow. Includes talk by Mike Henry, Head of Operations, Siemens Subsea 25th October, Lancaster University. Includes Productivity Panel discussion with leading industry experts, academics and regional SMEs