National Productivity Week 27th January 2025 | Visit Website

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

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Wales Productivity Forum

Wales has a population of 3 million, concentrated in the areas of Swansea, Cardiff and Newport, the South Wales Valleys and the north-east corner. Wales has a strong industrial heritage, centred on coal, heavy manufacturing and industry with a shift towards service sectors, tourism and technology. Wales’ output per hour is 17.2% below the UK average and it has three of the 10 least productive parts of the UK, and none in the top 10.

Cymru translation

Cymru Wales RPF logo

The Wales Productivity Forum is led by the University of Cardiff. 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

Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE

Wales Forum Chair
Business Wales

Melanie Jones

Professor Melanie Jones

Wales Forum Lead
Cardiff Business School

Members

Steve Dalton OBE

Former MD, Sony Innovation Centre

Dr Erin Gill

ARUP

Peter Marrissen

Admiral Group

Chris Nott OBE

Capital Law

Cynthia Ogbonna

Former MD, Cardiff City Transport Services

Dr Janet Wademan

Van Helsing Limited

Rachel Selden

JW Morris

Tom Wilkinson

Barcud Shared Services Ltd

Huw Thomas

Hywel Dda NHS Univ Health Board

Rhian Elston

Development Bank of Wales

Tom Nicholls

Welsh Government

Huw Morris

University College London

Andrew Henley

Cardiff University

Rick Delbridge

Cardiff University

Max Munday

Cardiff University

Helen Tilley

Wales Centre for Public Policy

David Blackaby

Swansea University

Gill Bristow

Cardiff University

Phil Brown

Cardiff University

Mike Woods

Aberystwyth University

Andy Treharne-Davies

Cardiff University

The Welsh economy has a sizeable productivity gap with the UK, and,  although the gap has not widened further over the past decade, the long-term slowdown of productivity over the longer term is a major factor of concern. Wales has experienced serious deindustrialisation over the past 50 years from a former legacy of coalmining and metals production, particularly in the south Wales valleys. But today, Wales still benefits from relatively good productivity performance in manufacturing, but weak productivity performance in other sectors, notably services.

Since the establishment of Senedd Cymru (formerly the National Assembly for Wales) in 1999, Wales has experienced devolved powers regarding health, education, transport, economic development and business support, agriculture and environment, and some limited fiscal powers. Find insights into Welsh productivity below.