We have nine Productivity Forums representing the English regions, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Eight Forums were established in 2021, with the South West Productivity Forum launching in 2025 following its separation from the London and the South Forum.
The Productivity Forums act as regional ambassadors for the importance of productivity while also shaping both local and national policy.
The work of the Forums has been shaped in large part by increasing awareness of the impact of regional inequalities. While each Forum addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of its location, there are common productivity challenges across regions in the United Kingdom. These include the need for targeted investment, skills development, innovation, and collaboration to drive sustainable and inclusive productivity growth.
As part of National Productivity Week 2025, the Forums updated their analysis of the productivity challenges and opportunities facing their regions. Full papers are published on the TPI website, and shorter versions have been included in the Regional Productivity Agenda.
Each Productivity Forum has a Lead, Chair and members, along with a dedicated microsite where you can find out more about regional insights and activities.
The Investment in Places research project is working with places to better understand how they can improve productivity, along with their economic and social conditions, with the aim of becoming more prosperous.
The forums are involved in the implementation of research insights, the design of practical business and policy interventions, and in providing input to the development of the Institute’s future research agenda.
Members include stakeholders from policy, community and business leaders from local, national and multinational enterprises. Each Productivity Forum is chaired by a regional business leader and supported by a Forum Lead from each of the partner universities.
