Poorly designed and inadequately maintained workplaces are draining the UK economy of more than £71 billion a year, according to new research from facilities and security services company Mitie.

Building core skills for a productive, high-growth economy

The UK is still grappling with what economists call the “productivity puzzle.” Since the 2008 global financial crisis, growth in output per worker has been sluggish when compared with international competitors such as the United States, Germany and France. Weak productivity holds back wages, dampens economic growth and limits our ability to fund vital public services.