Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
New research-informed podcast series launched to help boost SME productivity
Dr Ollie Jones, Tu Ngoc Vu, Adam Bennett (Sticks and Glass), Lowell Sheasby and Martin Coats
The six-part series of bite-sized, accessible episodes are focussed on what really makes a difference when it comes to boosting productivity. The series is designed for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders, and policymakers and commissioners interested in business support and economic development.
Each episode blends academic insight with frontline business experience, drawing on learning from over 600 SME interactions as part of the productivity and growth programmes delivered jointly by Leeds Beckett and Exemplas on behalf of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Beyond Busy: Boosting Productivity and Growth for Small Business.
Each episode features experts Dr Ollie Jones, Principal Lecturer in Operations, Enterprise and Supply Chain Management at Leeds Business School, LBU, and Martin Coats, Chief Operating Officer at Exemplas.
Episode themes include: productivity principles, the link between productivity and growth, and support processes for SMEs. Guests, including Leeds production company Sticks and Glass, share their experience of taking part in the Business Productivity Service programme, and the insights gained.
At Leeds Business School, our focus is on applied research and knowledge exchange that enables productivity improvements, and sustainable growth. Each episode of the ‘Beyond Busy: Boosting Productivity and Growth for Small Business’ Podcast provides insights from our collaborative partnership with Exemplas. We can show how our research-informed strategies, tools and techniques have helped SMEs understand productivity, apply practical changes and drive performance improvement and growth.
Martin Coats said: “For policymakers and commissioners, the series offers a trusted lens into what works in SME business support, based on what has worked well for our clients, reducing commissioning risk and supporting more impactful investment decisions. By showcasing proven strategies, the podcast enables more confident, evidence-based planning that contributes to long-term economic development and regional prosperity.”
The podcast series builds on the joint insight papers produced by the LBU and Exemplas team, which can be downloaded from the Exemplas website.
Alongside the podcast series, the team are delivering a series of free productivity workshops aimed at SME leaders held at The Knowledge Exchange within Leeds Beckett University’s city centre Rose Bowl building. The next workshop takes place on Tuesday 30 September. Tickets can be booked here.
In this article
Dr Oliver Jones
Dr Ollie Jones specialises in Operations Management. He has extensive industry experience, is a Teacher Fellow, and leads research on SME productivity, collaborating with businesses to develop support programmes as well as leading on impact in the Business School.
