The Productivity Engine

A society’s productivity, the key to its prosperity and living standards, reflects the outcome of decisions taken over many years or even decades. Britain’s flatlining productivity today reflects the disappearance of this long-term perspective.

Productivity is measured by dividing the output of goods and services by the number of hours which people have worked.

As one of the UK’s leading investors in rental communities, Apache has expanded its focus to suburban areas through its Present Made platform in recent years.

As the UK seeks to enhance its productivity and competitiveness on the global stage, innovative urban development strategies have emerged as a critical component of this endeavour.

Addressing the housing crisis requires a portfolio of solutions, from the renewal of our towns and cities, to the creation of new settlements that can provide genuinely affordable homes in healthy communities.

Two quotes, half a century and a continent apart, explain why housebuilding has declined to 145,000 per year, less than half of the Government’s objective of 300,000 p.a.

As productivity lags, wages can’t keep up with rents and mortgages; so, for far too many, a home of their own now seems out of reach. We simply haven’t built enough of them, undermining our young people’s potential for a prosperous future.

In the face of the UK’s productivity crisis, addressing the issue requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional economic measures. An often-overlooked factor is the social impact of developments on local communities.

The UK economy, and social mobility of British people, are held back by the lack of availability of an appropriate range of housing options, according to new research from the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs.

It’s well-documented that productivity is flatlining across the UK.

Commercial property returns are variable by geography. This dispersion is significantly influenced by the resilience and growth in income.

As an architect, our promise in the products we deliver to the world is that they will work to uncover challenges to solve problems through opportunities that change the world around us for the better.

Urban town planning is often a delicate balance between economic ambition, environmental concerns, and societal well-being but it can stumble due to its own overly complex bureaucracy.

Operational living is transforming housing options in the UK, offering flexibility and accessibility to suit diverse lifestyles at different stages of their lives and careers.

The creation of any ready-to-use product from Research & Development (R&D) needs to consider the ‘five Ps’ of Good Manufacturing Process (GMP): 1. a clear Product, 2. skilled People, 3. clear Processes, 4. correct Procedures, and 5. clean, safe and appropriate Premises.

There’s an awakening in the world of deeptech investment that if you want results, you need specialists.

There is little debate about the causal link between a healthy workforce and greater national prosperity.

The UK construction industry has a productivity problem. Construction output per hour worked is lower than in manufacturing, financial and business services, and utilities.

As the UK seeks to boost productivity levels, innovative companies and ecosystems are emerging as key drivers of growth.

Oxford Technology Park (OTP) prime location next to the University of Oxford’s Begbroke Science Park positions it to drive innovation.

The United Kingdom, once celebrated for its industrial prowess and ingenuity, now confronts a dire economic reality marked by a persistent productivity crisis.

Our starting point when thinking about how AI is going to impact productivity across the real estate sector must be to understand what it is that we are dealing with.

The Oxford to Cambridge region is home to the most productive life sciences cluster in Europe, with 300 companies contributing £2.9 billion to the UK economy, creating jobs and attracting investment for the whole country.

By 2035 the UK has a target to decarbonise the whole electricity system for Great Britain (GB), whilst also increasing demand for electricity by 50% over the same period.

Low carbon, low cost, and a secure supply of electricity is central to a sustainable and productive economy. However, building the generation and getting the power to where it is needed is not without its hurdles.

David Leslie, who leads one of Britain’s most innovative timber companies, shares his insights on how investment in people, technology, and sustainable practices can help the UK timber industry thrive and drive productivity in forestry and construction.

It’s 2040. The UK is directly feeling the benefits of its 2030s quantum innovation and is now running a highly productive economy. You can feel and almost hear a constant, powerful hum. It’s the soundtrack to a new era of British innovation and prosperity: the hum of quantum technology.

The UK has a productivity problem. One overlooked solution lies in the forestry sector. A strategic approach to increasing our domestic timber production and use could not only help decarbonize the construction sector but also provide a significant productivity boost to the UK.

Making more efficient use of Britain’s most finite resource—land—is our best chance to enhance the country’s sluggish productivity. It’s as simple as that.

Significant real estate lettings tell the story of a country highly attractive to global giants from Apple and Amazon to Moderna and MSD, but which struggles to nurture and retain our own innovative SMEs to scale. This is not to say the UK has an unimpressive record.

Just the title of this report, The Productivity Engine, reminds us of breakthrough technologies and the immense potential for renewable electricity to power our future.

Download this report to read both part one & two of 'The Productivity Paradox'

While rising productivity does not guarantee a successful economy and happy society, it certainly helps.

England suffers from a shortage of housing.