Boosting Productivity

Helping businesses to grow and invest in the region and their workforce, to drive economic growth, increase innovation and create jobs.

Helping businesses to grow and invest in the region and their workforce, to drive economic growth, increase innovation and create jobs

 

Why we have prioritised this  

A history of lower levels of skills, infrastructure investment and innovation means that productivity has lagged behind much of the UK as well as our European peers. In 2017, the output per hour worked in the region was 13% below UK levels overall and 6% less productive than the UK, excluding London. If our output per hour matched the national average, the West Yorkshire and national economies would be £7.9 billion larger. Real terms living standards can only be increased sustainability by increasing productivity.  

How we will achieve this   

To boost productivity, in 2020/21 the Combined Authority will:  

  • Support business to respond to the challenges and opportunities of Brexit.
  • Complete delivery of the Skills Commission, maximising its influence and embedding it in the Leeds City Region.  
    Provide 80 businesses with intensive support to boost productivity/innovation capacity.
  • Attract 30 global investors to the region creating 1700 jobs.
  • Help 350 businesses to increase overseas trade.  
    Embed the Regional Digital Framework. 
  • Produce an Adult Education Strategy. 
  • Extend our Delivery Agreements as a minimum to all AEB grant recipients and could be included for all AEB provider recipients (grants and procured).  

Policies and strategies   

The policies and strategies we have in place that will play a leading role in boosting productivity are:  

How we’re delivering on this priority 

Some of the projects we’re undertaking with partners to boost productivity include:  

  • Strategic Business Growth Programme: The LEP’s Strategic Business Growth Programme provides an integrated package of advisory and financial support to help SMEs with growth potential across Leeds City Region. 
  • We have in place Delivery Agreements with all West Yorkshire FE Colleges to link their delivery and curriculum planning to the region’s skills priorities. These delivery agreements enable a strategic conversation about the local labour market and the skills employers require. 

Monitoring and impact 

We will monitor progress towards meeting this priority against the following headline indicators: 

  • Productivity: Nominal gross valued added per hour worked  
  • Full-fibre coverage: Full-fibre coverage (% premises connected – FTTP or FTTH)  
  • Take-up of superfast (or above) broadband services: % of  properties that use superfast or ultrafast (at least 300 Mbit/s) services in areas where at least superfast broadband is available 
  • Mobile coverage (4G and 5G): % of area with access to good 4G and 5G mobile coverage (indoors)  
  • Employment rate: % of 16-64 resident population in employment 
  • Businesses engaging in innovative activity: % of businesses in the area that have engaged in innovation, including new / improved products or services, new technologies and knowledge transfer  
  • Goods / services exporting as % of GVA: Value of i) goods and ii) services exports expressed as a proportion of total GVA 
  • Percentage qualified at level 4 and above: % of population aged 16-64 with highest qualification at Level 4 and above 
  • Cultural sector contribution to employment: % of jobs that fall within cultural activities 
  • Economic output: Gross value added (balanced) at current basic prices 
  • Economic output per head: Gross value added (balanced) per head of population at current basic prices 
  • Private sector businesses: Number of private sector workplaces per 1,000 resident population 
  • Business birth rate: Proportion of active businesses that began trading in reporting year