Leading businesses and University of Strathclyde launch Productivity through People to enhance Scottish SMEs’ growth prospects
The University of Strathclyde’s business school is launching a new 12-month programme that supports SMEs to improve their business performance and help them better engage with their employees.
The Productivity through People programme is delivered in collaboration with Be the Business a new business-led organisation created to boost management skills and close the UK’s productivity gap, and supported by four world class organisations, GSK, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and John Lewis Partnership. Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis Partnership and Dave Tudor, head of strategy, global manufacturing and supply at GSK, are speaking at the launch event in Glasgow.
Strathclyde is the first Scottish University to offer a Productivity through People programme. It joins two schemes that are already underway in partnership with Lancaster and Bath University business schools.
Providing access to the latest techniques, thinking and research to transform businesses’ productivity and working practices, the programme is based on the insights and guidance of industry leaders, backed by the research and experience of the University of Strathclyde’s award-winning Business School.
Tony Danker, chief executive at Be the Business, said: “Improving our businesses’ productivity is the UK’s single biggest economic challenge for the next decade. The Productivity through People programme has been specifically designed to help business leaders meet this challenge and drive improvements in their firms. If a lot of companies do just a little bit better it would add £130bn in value to the UK economy each year.”
GSK’s Tudor added: “GSK is excited to support the first cohort of Scottish businesses participating in this new programme. Helping other businesses become more efficient will have positive knock on effects for entire supply chains. Inspiring people and giving them the tools to do their best work together is essential to creating sustainable improvements to business performance.”
Eleanor Shaw, professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde’s business school, commented: “The new Productivity through People programme has been designed to support Scotland’s business leaders of the future. Course participants will have access to the latest techniques, thinking and research from the University of Strathclyde and four world renowned companies to help them successfully grow their businesses.”