Produced by:
In association with:
Unlocking Wales' Productivity Potential
Podcast Series
Unlocking Wales’ Productivity Potential is a new podcast series produced by Business News Wales in partnership with the The Productivity Institute's Wales Productivity Forum.
The series will explore what productivity really means, why it matters to our economy, and how it can be improved in practice.
Across each episode, we’ll go beyond the headlines and take a closer look at the challenges and opportunities facing businesses and organisations across Wales.
From understanding the fundamentals of productivity to exploring its role in public services, we’ll shine a light on the strategies, tool kits, and innovations that can help raise performance and create stronger outcomes for people and places.
Understanding Productivity in Wales
Productivity is one of the most critical yet misunderstood drivers of economic growth and wellbeing, and Wales consistently ranks lowest among UK nations and regions for productivity.
Host Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Wales Forum Chair at the Wales Productivity Forum, is joined by Professor Melanie Jones of the Wales Productivity Forum, Professor Philip McCann of Alliance Manchester Business School and Rhys Thomas of PwC to unpack what productivity actually means, why it matters for individuals, businesses, and society, and what Wales needs to do to address its productivity gap.
Professor Melanie Jones
Lead for the Wales Productivity Forum
Cardiff Business School
Rhys Thomas
Director, Place & Investment Driver
PWC
Professor Philip McCann
Sir Terry Leahy Chair of Urban and Regional Economics
Alliance Manchester Business School
Unlocking Hidden Business Productivity Potential
Running a business is challenging and time is always in short supply. What if just a few small, smart changes could unlock hidden potential, boost efficiency, and improve profitability?
Host Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Wales Forum Chair at the Wales Productivity Forum, is joined by Tom Wilkinson of Barcud Shared Services, Jane Wallace-Jones of Something Different Wholesale and Jason Murphy of AMRC Cymru to discuss the Wales Business Productivity Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help SMEs identify opportunities for improvement and take action.tion.
Tom Wilkinson
Group Operations Director
Barcud Shared Services
Jane Wallace-Jones
CEO
Something Different Wholesale
Jason Murphy
Director
AMRC Cymru
Productivity in the Public Sector
(coming soon)
Public services in Wales face immense pressure, from tight budgets and rising demand to workforce shortages and increasing public expectations.
Host Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Wales Forum Chair at the Wales Productivity Forum, is joined by Huw Thomas, Executive Director of Finance at Hywel Dda University Health Board, Owen Wilce, Senior Innovation Manager at Cardiff Capital Region and Barry Lloyd, Head of Innovation and New Product Development at Transport for Wales to examine what ‘public sector productivity’ really means and how improving efficiency, embracing innovation, and supporting staff can help deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Owen Wilce
Senior Innovation Manager
Cardiff Capital Region
Barry Lloyd
Head of Innovation and New Product Development
Transport for Wales
Huw Thomas
Executive Director of Finance
Hywel Dda UHB
The Productivity Challenge for the Next Welsh Government
(coming soon)
As Wales approaches the 2026 Senedd election, productivity remains one of the nation’s defining economic challenges. The Wales Productivity Forum’s latest report warns that while other devolved nations have made gains, Wales risks falling further behind without targeted action.
Host Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Wales Forum Chair at the Wales Productivity Forum, is joined by Professor Melanie Jones of the Wales Productivity Forum, Joshua Miles, Head of the Federation of Small Businesses Wales and Rhian Elston of Development Bank of Wales to explore the Forum’s key policy recommendations for the next Welsh Government.
Professor Melanie Jones
Lead for the Wales Productivity Forum
Cardiff Business School
Josh Miles
Head of Wales
FSB
Rhian Elston
Investment Director
Development Bank of Wales
Business News Wales is a Welsh-owned independent media and communications business with a team of journalists and storytellers located in all regions of Wales.
Our wide-ranging menu of platforms, communication services, and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven, strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond.