Growing Productivity

Exploring where productivity begins

Productivity debates usually begin inside the workplace. Yet the foundations of a productive economy are laid much earlier, long before someone enters an organisation.

Confidence, curiosity and the habit of learning shape whether people adapt, progress and contribute.

In cities like London, the places where adults continue learning matter as much to productivity as the workplaces themselves.

Interviews

The Art of Goal Keeping

Simon Parkinson, CEO, WEA

Simon Parkinson, CEO of the large adult learning charity, WEA, looks at the multiple pluses lifelong learning courses give adults – something that gets lost in translation by a government that still has no overall adult learning strategy. Interview by Nicola Baird.

Articles

The Participation Dividend: Why Economic Growth Depends on People Feeling Able to Take Part

We explore how confidence, access and lifelong learning determine who gets to contribute to London's economy – and why the boroughs investing in participation today are building the productive city of tomorrow....

Lived Experience

Moving into a green career through practical training

As the demand for green skills grows, the challenge is creating clear routes into these roles. Targeted training programmes can bridge this gap by combining technical knowledge with practical application.

Learning about green jobs by seeing them in your local area

As demand for green skills grows, the challenge is helping people understand how these jobs connect to their everyday lives.

Creating real pathways into work for young people facing complex challenges

For some young people, access to work is not just about skills - it is shaped by complex barriers including trauma, instability and lack of opportunity. Without targeted support, many remain excluded from the workforce.

Learning in a space designed for deaf learners

Access to learning is not equal for all adults. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, the availability of appropriate, specialist provision can determine whether learning is possible at all.

Getting back to work after ten years at home

For many adults, returning to work after a long break can feel overwhelming - especially without recent experience or a clear pathway.

Building the confidence to work in a café environment

For adults with learning difficulties or disabilities, the journey into employment often starts with building confidence and practical skills in a supportive environment.