As the new Apprenticeship Levy comes into effect, Centre analyst Andy Norman argues that, if armed with the right information, LEPs can ensure apprenticeships drive inclusive growth up and down the country.
Continue reading “How LEPs can ensure apprenticeships drive inclusive growth”
In 2016 a National Audit Office report identified that the actual rate of public land sales was significantly lower than the £1bn per annum assumed by the government. As a result of this difference, the Centre for Progressive Capitalism has updated its analysis on the potential incremental uplift from land value capture for residential housing.
In 2016 a National Audit Office report identified that the actual rate of public land sales was significantly lower than the £1bn per annum assumed by the government. As a result of this difference, the Centre for Progressive Capitalism has updated its analysis on the potential incremental uplift from land value capture for residential housing. The significantly lower figure of public land sales means that the potential incremental uplift for infrastructure investment is now £185bn over the next 20 years, £13bn more than our initial estimate of £172bn.
Continue reading “Estimating land value capture for England – updated analysis”
The Centre responds to a number of policy announcements made by the Chancellor Philip Hammond in the 2017 Budget.
The story of Britain’s post 1945 economy has largely been one of governments trying to work out why productivity across the UK has been so much lower than in other advanced economies. So it shouldn’t be surprising that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer stepped up to deliver his last spring budget, productivity was mentioned 10 times in the speech.
Writing for CapX, director of the Centre for Progressive Capitalism Thomas Aubrey argues that the current business rates system is not fit for a dynamic 21st century economy.
To solve the technical skills shortage and energise the industrial strategy, the government must empower prospective students and technical course providers with the data they need to make the right choices
The failure of successive governments to design and implement effective reforms to technical education in the UK has been well documented. Its legacy, according to the current government, is a complex, confusing system of technical education which ‘does not deliver either for individuals, for the skills needs of employers, or for the wider economy’.
Continue reading “How skills policy can energise the modern industrial strategy”
The government ought to provide the Competition & Markets Authority with broader powers to prevent the acquisition of UK firms if this reduces competition at national, regional or global level. Such a change will likely spur innovation in search for other sources of earnings growth, which may lead to greater investment and productivity
Earlier in my career as a management consultant, I once questioned a CEO on his firm’s low level of organic growth.
“Much easier to buy market share!” he responded with a grin.
The recent failed acquisition of Unilever by Kraft Heinz reminded me of this quip. Kraft Heinz is a large consumer goods conglomerate with around $27bn in annualised net sales and organic growth of 1.6% year on year. In contrast, the much larger Unilever has €53bn in turnover, which fell by 1% year on year.
Continue reading “Why Britain’s lax competition framework needs to change”
A recent blog post by Lichfields suggested that the government’s housing White Paper has been excessively criticised by housing commentators. They go further stating that the white paper “leaves enough flexibility in the process to reflect spatial variation and it stops short of gimmicks.” Lichfields raises an important issue as the housing white paper does indeed contain wide ranging options to address a number of issues that have plagued the UK’s inability to raise its long-term trend of housebuilding. Continue reading “Sustaining profitable growth in volatile markets”
Sajid Javid has made it clear that building more homes is his top priority. So what can we expect in his white paper later this month? Recent comments by Gavin Barwell suggest the government is focussed on finding a system that can fund the necessary infrastructure to pave the way for larger scale housebuilding while avoiding conflicts that can make schemes unviable. A housing white paper that finally addressed Britain’s feeble levels of infrastructure investment by tweaking the Land Compensation Act would be transformational
Sajid Javid has made it clear that building more homes is his top priority. So what can we expect in his white paper later this month? Recent comments by Gavin Barwell suggest the government is focussed on finding a system that can fund the necessary infrastructure to pave the way for larger scale housebuilding while avoiding conflicts that can make schemes unviable. A housing white paper that finally addressed Britain’s feeble levels of infrastructure investment by tweaking the Land Compensation Act would be transformational.
When Theresa May spoke to the CBI last month she urged businesses to invest in Britain for the long term. The challenge for business is that in an uncertain environment firms often prefer not to invest, as they could make poor investments and therefore hurt performance. The Prime Minister might have a point though as businesses in the UK have tended to underinvest during more positive conditions too
When Theresa May spoke to the CBI last month she urged businesses to invest in Britain for the long term. The challenge for business is that in an uncertain environment firms often prefer not to invest, as they could make poor investments and therefore hurt performance. The Prime Minister might have a point though as businesses in the UK have tended to underinvest during more positive conditions too.
Continue reading “Why share buybacks imply executive managers have run out of ideas”
