Advisory board

At Amazon we’re fully committed to helping UK businesses grow their productivity – particularly through the adoption of digital technology, and we love the work Be the Businesses is doing to help make this a reality.

Productivity is a win-win for businesses and the people who work there, and not just financially. Well-run firms also have happier and motivated employees. It is very exciting to support Be the Business in ensuring these benefits are shared widely across as many UK firms as possible.

This is the decisive initiative for this generation of UK business leaders and we recognise that outstanding business performance across all sectors and regions is within our reach.

Improving the UK’s productivity performance is the most important domestic policy issue facing of our generation. It offers the best route to sustainable improvements in jobs, wages and public services. With a technological revolution on our doorstep, it is vital that all stakeholders work together.

At BAE Systems, we have the benefit of scale, capital and the ability to attract and retain first class people. We want to share our knowledge and skills with other companies in our supply chain to help improve their productivity.

Nestle is part of an overall food and drink industry value chain worth £112bn to the UK economy per year, employing four million people. We know if the productivity of our supply chain improves, the productivity and competitiveness of our own business improves too.

Improving productivity and competitiveness is one of the most important imperatives for the UK, if not the most important. This cannot and should not be viewed as solely the responsibility of government or economists. Business and organisational leaders have to take the lead.

Just about the only way to improve the UK’s standard of living and thereby create the kind of society to which we all aspire is by raising the level of output per worker. That’s why we must strain every sinew to increase British productivity.

I joined Be The Business to contribute to a critical issue for British business and British prosperity

Productivity is the engine room of UK economic growth and improving it will play a vital part in regionalising the UK economy – something that I and KPMG are committed to helping achieve.

Working as one movement, in this new winner takes all digital age, we have the opportunity to cement our legacy of global best – being a beacon of prosperity, not only in moral leadership but also economic strength, for the next generations to live, build and celebrate upon.

Improving the UK’s productivity has never been more important. I am excited to join Be the Business at this critical time for the UK economy and to play a part in helping businesses across the whole of the UK benefit from the skills, tools and experiences they need to enhance their competitiveness.

If we are to learn from successes in other countries, the movement itself needs sustained business leadership. We have the advocacy of some of the UK’s most senior business leaders and we are confident we can make a difference.

In a fiercely competitive and fast changing world, it is vital that the UK leads where it can. Our productivity is at the heart of that competitiveness and it is vital that we do everything we can to improve it.

Improving productivity is a huge part of our commitment to transforming the way the UK works and lives. The digital technologies we develop all have huge potential to bring about increased productivity, as well as economic growth and an expanding job market.

Our purpose at Lloyds Banking Group is to help Britain prosper. Productivity is key to the prosperity of the UK and we are committed to providing support to British businesses, allowing them to access the management skills, tools and financial management practices to enhance productivity.

Improving the productivity of UK businesses is critical if we are to compete and thrive in a rapidly transforming world. Cracking this is important, not just for each business, but also to create good jobs, a prosperous economy and a prosperous society as a whole. Helping organisations start this journey to better productivity is why I am passionate about the role of Be the Business.

The coronavirus pandemic has proven how critical technology has become as the foundation to power and accelerate productivity and provide economic and social benefits to the UK. Government, business and industry leaders must work together to ensure that everyone – regardless of their age, background or ethnicity – is given the opportunity to learn digital skills and build careers that help to boost productivity levels and drive a digital and inclusive future.

SMEs represent 99 per cent of UK industry and represent nearly 50 per cent of jobs and are critical to the economic recovery. Digitally-enabled businesses are resilient businesses and we are committed to providing the tools and resources to enable SMEs to drive economic growth, create jobs and strengthen communities across the UK.