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WQ.278/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE
MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY 1st JUNE 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 8th JUNE 2021
Question
Will the Minister advise what progress, if any, has been made in developing a productivity strategy, particularly for industries such as agriculture and hospitality; and does he plan for such a productivity strategy to be developed before the outcome of the living wage review?
Answer
Members will be aware that a report looking at options to support productivity improvements in Agriculture, Hospitality & Retail was delivered in 2018.
Further to this the Common Strategic Policy 2018-2022 set out the priority of creating a sustainable, vibrant economy and skilled local workforce for the future by delivering an economic framework to improve productivity. The States Assembly approved an allocation of funding, as part of the Future Economy Programme, towards Productivity Support in the Government Plan 2020-2023.
As part of the implementation of suggested actions on productivity, a pilot Productivity Support Scheme has been developed during 2021 and is soon to be launched. The Productivity Support Scheme will sit alongside other initiatives which promote productivity, such as the Rural Initiative Scheme and skills programmes.
The pilot Productivity Support Scheme will offer match-funded grants to local SME businesses – including those in the agriculture and hospitality sectors – to develop productivity improvements. The scheme will be run in conjunction with Jersey Business who will also be able to offer broader productivity support to businesses.
This pilot scheme will help to provide business intelligence on the needs of different sectors in relation to productivity and can support the development of productivity improvement plans within industry specific strategies.
Improving business productivity levels is one step towards making businesses more efficient and profitable which will support their ability to move towards a Living Wage.