How culture and values can help grow and sustain workforce productivity

The UK has a productivity problem: UK productivity growth has been lagging behind global peers for over a decade, and is less than half the average annual rate before the global financial crisis. The answer to the problem, however, is not straightforward and it is not yet solved.

The digitised, knowledge-based economy is expanding, with intellectual capital, innovation, and technology driving growth. Rapid advancements in technology, including GenAI, and decarbonisation demand business and policy transformation. PwC’s 27th UK CEO survey revealed that 1 in 5 UK CEOs believe their organisation won’t be viable in the next 10 years on its current path. Additionally, businesses face persistent and deepening disruption, offering potential for significant productivity improvements and a path to a greener, smarter future. Can the UK unlock growth and regain global competitiveness, or will the puzzle only become more complex? And where does culture fit in? Our values, workplace environments, and culture are increasingly crucial in solving the productivity puzzle.

PwC UK, alongside Brand with Values, recently engaged over 6,000 employees across the UK in a culture and values study to understand UK PLC’s culture and values, and what shifts might be needed at a macro and micro level to grow and sustain workforce productivity.