The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has released a new toolkit aimed at addressing challenges in public sector productivity across the UK.
The Public Sector Productivity Toolkit is intended for use by individuals working in government and public services, offering them guidance to help strengthen performance and increase efficiency.
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Productivity in public services has experienced slow growth since the 2008 financial crisis, with setbacks intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 0.7% fall in total public service productivity during the second quarter of this year, the largest decrease since the end of 2022.
While there have been some recent gains, productivity remains 3% lower than it was before the pandemic began, and the UK continues to lag behind many other developed nations, stated CIMA.
Economic estimates suggest that weak productivity growth in the public sector costs the UK economy around £80bn each year, with projections indicating this figure could rise to £170bn by 2030 without intervention.
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By GlobalDataA renewed focus on improving productivity is seen as essential for maintaining sustainable and resilient public services, as well as for supporting broader economic and social goals.
CIMA’s toolkit includes practical resources such as tools, checklists, and frameworks designed to aid staff across finance, human resources, operations, and strategy in assessing and improving productivity.
The material is divided into eight key topics: defining productivity in public services; strategic planning and alignment; governance and reporting; tracking and measuring outcomes; financial management as a driver of change; organisational culture; leadership practices; and the use of digital technology and AI.
CIMA CEO Andrew Harding said: “Our new toolkit is designed to help public sector leaders, managers, and finance professionals tackle productivity challenges head-on. It offers practical guidance and tools to align strategy with delivery across services and departments. CIMA’s research highlights a lack of integration as a key barrier to productivity – this toolkit helps users identify those gaps and build a performance-driven culture.”
