We explore the reforms needed to improve workforce productivity in Northern England
Northern England suffers from persistent gaps in both productivity and skill levels. The UK Government’s Levelling Up White Paper identifies skills as a crucial driver of regional economic disparities and highlights plans to increase skills training, raise educational standards, and put employers at the heart of the Further Education and training system. But how likely is it that these bold aims will be achieved?
Bringing together perspectives from northern employers, regional policy-makers, employer representative bodies and Further Education providers, this report calls for a fundamental rethink of skills policy and recommends ways to boost employer investment in skills and improve the way skills are used in the workplace.
The CIPD has run a number of free HR consultancy support pilots which have been successful in helping small businesses understand and address skills gaps. The evaluation of these pilots suggests that bespoke and flexible business consultancy support provided led to improvements in workplace relations, labour productivity and financial outcomes, and could help prompt further investment in business improvement among participating firms.
Download the report
A round-up of the CIPD's engagement activity with the main UK political parties and with trade unions in championing better work and working lives on behalf of the people profession
From structures to processes to people, organisations undergo frequent change, and in today’s context, often with increasing complexity. But what role can L&D play, better positioning them as operational partners of change?
Understand what we mean by skills in the workplace, UK skill levels and the government’s skills policy.
Research in this report suggests that improving leadership and people management can help raise the motivation and productivity of the public sector workforce
The CIPD’s biennial report exploring health, wellbeing and absence management provides invaluable trend analysis and practice insight to help employers and people professionals develop and maintain supportive, productive workplaces
Read our latest Labour Market Outlook report for analysis on employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions
Population ageing, generative AI and the green transition are reshaping job markets and skills needs, creating risks and opportunities that require policy action to support lifelong learning and career development