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GEFCO UK and the University of Warwick’s Global Research Priority (GRP) on Productivity and the Futures of Work invite all registered students and alumni to participate in an exciting competition capturing your predictions for the future of work in a post-COVID era.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on people's personal and professional lives. The adoption of new behaviours has transformed human relationships at multiple levels, and attitudes towards working from home have changed substantially since the beginning of the outbreak. Some of these changes have had positive consequences, both from a social and business perspective. Undoubtedly, the costs of running a business have declined, and the reduction in commuting and preparation costs have likely fallen for employees as well. At the same time, several elements have caused a negative impact. After a year of restrictions, many feel the strain of adopting enforced working practices that they never planned for or expected. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, it was easier to distinguish work-related stress from personal stress. Now that many employees are working from home, the boundaries have become more blurred. A poor work-life balance can negatively affect an individual's physical and psychological health as well as their efficiency and effectiveness. If not dealt with, stress can lead to ill health, burnout and, in some cases, psychological and physiological issues.

The UK Prime Minister has proclaimed a Green Industrial Revolution. This revolution will ‘build green jobs and industries of the future’ the Prime Minister stated. The big question is whether there is employer demand for the jobs that will support this revolution. Examining new data on vacancies for green jobs suggests that demand is not growing and that further stimuli and support will be needed to deliver this revolution.

University of Warwick is pleased to be involved in a major new research institute funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which will focus on how to make the UK economy more productive. The new £32m Productivity Institute is being hosted by the Alliance Manchester Business School at Manchester University for five years, starting from 1st September 2020.

The University of Manchester will partner with eight other institutions across the country to help policy and business leaders across the UK understand how to improve productivity and living standards as the economy begins to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The Productivity Insights Network was established in January 2018 and is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. As a multi-disciplinary network of social science researchers engaged with public, private, and third sector partners, our aim is to change the tone of the productivity debate in theory and practice. This project reveals an account of how how productivity is perceived in a Covid-19 era and the role digital technologies have to play as a catalyst for driving productivity. This report was prepared by by Clive Reynolds (Strategic Capability Ltd) Colin Siddle (Ryton Management Consultants Ltd)