
Charlotte Hill
Operations Director, Gripple
How can UK businesses collaborate more effectively to share best practices, foster innovation, and increase productivity, thereby strengthening the UK’s competitive edge in the global landscape and driving national economic growth?
Richard Sansom
East Midlands Network Director, Cadent Gas
UK businesses can get a real edge by teaming up with government to fuel R&D together. This approach means cofunding cutting edge projects, from AI to green tech, giving companies the boost they need to stay ahead globally. Another smart move is forming data sharing consortia, where businesses can exchange non sensitive insights on market trends, consumer behaviour and operations. By pooling knowledge, companies can make smarter decisions, innovate faster, and lift productivity across the board.
Cathrine Scowcroft
Head of Commercial Finance for Renewables, Certas Energy UK Limited
For businesses and organisations to contribute to strengthening the UKs competitive edge and driving economic growth by collaboration, they firstly need to openly share best practice and knowledge, collaborating with the right intent, without the sole aim of benefiting themselves and/or their organisation. Organisations can have a reluctance to enter into larger projects with no clearly defined benefits, for which incentives and grants into research could be explored to drive organisations into working together and negate the debate of cost vs benefit in the short term.
Facilitating collaboration through the right forum is imperative. Even if organisations enter with the right intent, legislation can be a blocker, for example when considering competition law, preventing open conversation. Amendments to legislation to enable conversation around subjects that would benefit excelling the UKs competitive advantage could remove the fear of fines and reputational damage, whilst driving the right behaviours with knowledge sharing.
Another key area of collaboration is gaining insight from different backgrounds. This could be from different industries, different backgrounds (whether private or public/industry or educational), different generations and disseminating information through multi layered organisations to gain relevant feedback from the “doers” vs “strategists”.
Kareema Hilton
Machining Applications Theme Lead, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
If you’re looking for ways to boost collaboration, innovation, and productivity as a UK business, here are some effective strategies:
Invest in Research and Development (R&D): Whether it’s through hiring dedicated R&D personnel or allocating a specific budget, R&D can bring fresh ideas and solutions. For businesses with limited resources, partnering with an HVMC (High Value Manufacturing Catapult) centre or universities can offer access to cutting-edge technologies and research tailored to industry needs. Leveraging these partnerships can help even smaller businesses stay competitive.
Join Industry Networks and Trade Associations: Many associations regularly host events and forums to share best practices and drive industry-wide innovation. Being actively involved in such groups allows businesses to gain insights into new technologies, policies, and trends that can positively impact productivity.
Encourage Cross-Industry Collaboration: Looking beyond your sector to engage with companies in adjacent industries can spark new ideas and lead to breakthroughs that wouldn’t emerge within a single industry. For example, an automotive company working with a tech firm could lead to advancements in autonomous driving or logistics.
Embrace Digital Transformation: The UK government offers several incentives, like the Digital Catapult and the Made Smarter initiative, which help businesses adopt advanced digital technologies. Exploring digital tools, such as automation and data analytics, can optimise processes and increase productivity.
Develop Skills and Training Programs: A well-trained workforce is critical for any business aiming to innovate. Consider training and upskilling programs focused on emerging technologies, digital skills, and leadership to prepare your team for future challenges.
Support a Culture of Open Innovation: Encourage employees to collaborate, share ideas, and even partner with external stakeholders. Businesses that support a culture of open innovation often outperform competitors because they can quickly adapt and implement the best solutions available.
Utilise Government Grants and Funding: Many funding opportunities are available in the UK for businesses aiming to innovate and grow. Investigating options through Innovate UK, for example, can provide the support needed for ambitious projects that drive growth.
Andrew Gall
Head of Savings & Economics, Building Societies Association
It’s easy to come up with reasons not to collaborate: giving away commercial secrets, ensuring you are getting a fair deal, the time and energy working together required. We need to turn this on it’s head and make it so it is obviously in businesses’ interests to collaborate. This means structures, institutions (public and private) and incentives that make sharing a no-brainer.
Fhaheen Khan
Senior Economist, Make UK
Collaboration is key to accelerating innovation. Many UK businesses, particularly small ones, can fall behind on implementing the latest technologies often due to a lack of awareness. Before businesses collaborate, it must be institutions like Innovate UK, the BBB or the Catapults who must work more closely with industry bodies to pool knowledge and make them accessible. This can be followed by training upcoming leaders to be more engaged with these institutions to access and apply that knowledge into their own business.
Sion Lewis
Associate, Arup
Improved productivity is a worldwide ambition. At the moment the key to making big improvements in this space lies in AI. Harnessing AI in innovative ways will drive productivity to new levels. Businesses or countries that stifle AI deployment will fall behind and so it is imperative that innovation in AI is driven not just within businesses but within sectors and even across sectors. There are huge synergies possible but the challenge is getting competitors to share valuable knowledge – this will only be possible with a mutual understanding and acceptance of the benefits available to all.