National Productivity Week 2026: Unlocking the UK’s productivity potential
Productivity has never mattered more. With UK organisations navigating tight labour markets, rising costs, rapid technological change and intensifying global competition, the question is no longer whether productivity needs attention but how fast leaders can act on it. Done well, productivity is not about working harder. It is about unlocking growth, resilience and better outcomes for people, firms and places.
That urgency is the backdrop to National Productivity Week (27 April - 1 May 2026) - a UK-wide programme of events designed to translate evidence into action. Led by The Productivity Institute and supported by leading universities and partners, the week brings together business leaders, policymakers and researchers to share insight, challenge assumptions and spotlight what really works.
Alliance Manchester Business School is proud to be at the heart of this conversation. With deep expertise in productivity, place-based growth and organisational performance, and strong connections across business and the public sector, AMBS and The Productivity Institute are shaping the national productivity agenda linking rigorous research with practical impact.
Below are the AMBS-hosted and AMBS-led events taking place during National Productivity Week. Each is designed to deliver clear value, fresh thinking and ideas you can put to work immediately.
Events
Start every day with clarity: expert insight you can use before 9am.
Monday 27 April to Friday 1 May, 8:30am-9:00am
This daily, live, interactive podcast series will bring together leading experts to discuss the key drivers of productivity in the UK economy. Hosted by Bart van Ark, Managing Director of The Productivity Institute, each session features a leading expert - with guests across the week including AMBS’ Professor Philip McCann and The University of Manchester President Duncan Ivison - followed by a live audience Q&A.
Who should attend: Business leaders, policymakers, advisers, journalists, researchers and anyone shaping strategy or policy.
What you’ll gain: Clear perspectives on what is holding productivity back and what can move the needle now, straight from the people influencing national thinking.
From efficiency to impact: how productivity delivers better outcomes.
Monday 27 April, 1:30pm-5:30pm
Productivity is not an end in itself. This event reframes the conversation showing how smarter productivity strategies can drive stronger economic performance, social value and environmental outcomes at the same time. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, speakers will explore how organisations and governments can align productivity with inclusive and sustainable growth.
Who should attend: Policymakers, public sector leaders, ESG and sustainability professionals, and academics.
What you’ll gain: The opportunity to hear from experts each addressing a key set of challenges shaping UK productivity, and to engage with national partners discussing how policy and practice can support inclusive, sustainable and impactful productivity growth.
Make productivity a leadership advantage - not a short-term fix.
Tuesday 28 April, 9am-11am
With budgets under strain and demand rising, organisations need productivity approaches that build capacity and resilience over time - not burnout. Too often, productivity initiatives focus on quick wins. This interactive session challenges that mindset, exploring how long-term leadership, strategy and innovation create lasting performance improvements, especially in complex public and third-sector environments.
Who should attend: Senior leaders and decision-makers in the public, third and mission-driven sectors.
What you’ll gain: Strategic frameworks, peer insight and practical ideas you can apply immediately within your organisation.
Unlock Greater Manchester’s growth potential through skills and talent.
Wednesday 29 April, 5pm-6:30pm
As regions compete for talent and investment, aligning skills with productivity is critical to sustaining growth and opportunity. This event focuses on Greater Manchester, examining how skills, talent and workforce investment shape regional productivity, and where the biggest opportunities lie. Grounded in new research and local insight, the discussion will explore how employers, policymakers and institutions can work together to close productivity gaps.
Who should attend: Regional business leaders, local authorities, combined authority partners, skills providers and economic development teams.
What you’ll gain: Region-specific intelligence, evidence on what drives productivity locally, and insights to inform workforce and skills strategies.
Turn better management into measurable performance gains.
Friday 1 May, 10am-12pm
Productivity lives and dies on the quality of day-to-day management. In tight labour markets, organisations cannot afford disengagement or wasted potential; effective people management is a productivity lever hiding in plain sight. This interactive session explores how manager–employee relationships, leadership behaviours and organisational culture directly shape performance. Expect evidence-based insight and practical recommendations you can act on.
Who should attend: Line managers, HR leaders, organisational development professionals and senior leaders.
What you’ll gain: Clear, research-backed guidance on improving engagement, management practice and productivity at team level.
Use the right data to target the right productivity interventions.
Friday 1 May, 1:30pm-3pm
Better decisions start with better data. This event explores how regional productivity data can inform smarter policy, sharper investment and more targeted interventions. Speakers will examine what data is available, how it can be used, and where gaps still limit action.
Who should attend: Policymakers, analysts, regional stakeholders, researchers and strategy teams.
What you’ll gain: Insight into how data can support evidence-led decision-making and improve productivity outcomes at a regional level.
Be part of the productivity conversation that shapes what comes next
National Productivity Week is more than just a series of events – it’s a chance to connect with leading thinkers, challenge assumptions and leave with practical insights you can use. Whether you are shaping policy, leading an organisation or researching the future of work, this programme offers knowledge, networks and momentum.
Explore the full programme and register now. Join the conversation, build valuable connections and take away ideas that will strengthen performance - now and for the long term.