National Productivity Week 27th November 2023 | Visit Website

A diverse community of
leading experts, policymakers
and practitioners

The Institute’s key research themes
are led by ten academic partners
spread across the UK.

We’re a UK-wide research
organisation exploring what
productivity means for business

Businesses are crucial to solving
the UK’s productivity problems.

Business

London and the South Productivity Forum

Covering Greater London, down to the south east coast and from Somerset to Cornwall in south west of England, this area has more than 23 million people. London is the most populous and the most productive area in the UK – more than 31.6% above average, but there are strong intra-regional differences, with a focus on rural activities and tourism in the far south compared to mixed and knowledge based industries around the capital in the south-east.

 

RPF logo for London & the South

The London and the South Forum is led by the King’s College London. It is 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.

Key Contacts

Sarah Murray

London & South Forum Chair
Director, Local London

Damian Grimshaw

Professor Damian Grimshaw

London & South Forum Lead
King's College London

Britt Regal

London & South Research Associate
King's College London

Committee

Professor Marcela Miozzo

King's College London

Alice Seabrook-Martina

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

Andrew Eldred

Electric Contractors' Association

Ben Boutcher-West

Connected Kerb

Brian MacAuley

Digital Catapult

Hannah Shackleford

Bristol City Council

Lis Anderson

Ambitious PR

Louise Aitken

South East Local Enterprise Partnership

Richard Foggie

Knowledge Transfer Network

Nicky Williams

Confederation of British Industry, South West

Russ Shaw CBE

Tech London Advocates

Saffron Woodcraft

University College London

Sam Gurney

Trades Union Congress

David Legg

Innovate UK

Duncan Kerr

West of England Combined Authority

Tracey Rob Perera

Non-executive director & board member

Lesley Giles

Work Advance

Cecilia Bufton

Dorset Local Area Partnership

Claire Miller

Octopus Electric Vehicles

Layla Burrows

Innovate UK

Claudia Vecciolini

King's College London

Mira Tørres

CIFF

Laura Spence

Royal Holloway, University of London

Tara Baker

KUKA Robotics

London has the highest level of productivity in the UK by a significant margin thanks to its high concentration of high-tech and high value-added businesses, graduates and other highly skilled individuals, alongside high calibre infrastructure. However there is a polarisation of living standards across London’s boroughs and the top 10% of London firms are up to three times more productive than the bottom 10%. Many areas in the South East have also experienced productivity growth surpassing the UK’s overall average. This is counterbalanced by areas outside of the capital’s commuter belt, particularly in the South West, which have relatively low levels of productivity.

The Greater London Authority, a unique governance structure established in 2000, covers the 32 London boroughs and has significant autonomy in areas like transport, housing, and policing. The South East of England has no devolution deal and its has significant intra-regional divides are compounded the lack of a coordinated regional voice through a Metro Mayor or other institution.  Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset established the West of England Combined Authority in 2017, with a focus in planning, skills development, local transport, and business support. In 2015, Cornwall became the first rural unitary authority to successfully negotiate a devolution deal but turned down a mayoral devolution deal in 2023.