UK productivity is 30 per cent lower than in Germany and CBI research calculates that higher regional productivity could add £208bn to the UK economy over the next decade.

Research commissioned by a group of leading UK business people, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the Chair of John Lewis, showed that the inability of organisations to harness the full potential and capability of their workforce is a key contributor to the productivity problem.

Following the research, Productivity through People is a new leadership programme devised by an alliance of academic experts and industry.

The University of Bath’s School of Management and industry partners EDF Energy, Babcock International, Rolls-Royce plc and BAE Systems will run the programme in the South West to boost management skills, and in turn productivity.

Small-medium sized businesses in the engineering sector can sign up to the 12-month programme, starting in May 2017, for unique access to world class engineering organisations and leaders that have transformed the workplace.

The programme will encourage the delegates to translate their learning into practical improvements for their businesses. Held at business locations and the University, it will showcase world-class manufacturing techniques used by EDF Energy, Babcock International, Rolls-Royce plc and BAE Systems and offer coaching, peer support, experiential visits to businesses and on-line resources with academic content delivered by the University.

The aim is to create a network of like-minded and supportive peers – a proven element within many successful business support programmes.

The programme has run in the North West and the aim is to roll it out across the UK, in a variety of industry sectors.

Professor Veronica Hope Hailey, Dean of the University of Bath’s School of Management, and a UK expert on leadership said: “Productivity is driven not just by upskilling one or two top individuals but by implementing progressive and efficient working practices across the whole workplace and supply chain. That is why parts of the engineering sector perform so competitively in the UK.

“The School of Management and University of Bath's Innovation Centre are delighted to be working with four world class engineering partners to drive productivity in the South West and we look forward to working with the business leaders of the future.”

For more information about the Productivity through People programme visit: http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/exec_dev/productivity-through-people/