Centre for Growth

Our Approach to Energising UK Growth

To tackle these challenges, unlock new opportunities and propel economic growth, we believe the UK must consider where it can best compete. Not doing so risks missing out on bringing investment, jobs, skills and ideas into the UK. The Centre for Growth focuses on big shifts that:

• Build on the UK’s sources of comparative advantage
• Capitalise on global megatrends and forces that are poised to shape the future
• Sit at the intersection of the public and private sector, where joint action can deliver outsized returns and benefits

Our approach uses a framework with two key pillars:

1. Doing the Basics Better. From energy infrastructure and grid access to regulatory design and cost pressures, too many of the UK’s foundational systems are holding back growth and innovation, instead of enabling it. These structural barriers contribute to the UK lagging behind the productivity frontier compared with its peers; in 2022, the UK’s productivity was 14% below that of Germany and 10% below France’s. By bringing together a series of supply-side reforms, a solid platform for growth and innovation can be formed.
2. Building on Current Strengths and Targeting Future Opportunities. With many countries increasing investment in emerging sectors and technologies, the UK risks falling behind, even in areas that are currently strengths. We identify potential areas of UK comparative advantage and high growth, from our already leading services sector to cutting-edge technologies such as AI – sectors where innovation is rapidly shifting the productivity frontier.

Within this framework, we take a bottom-up approach, focusing on the practical steps that can set the UK onto a better path based on our learnings from working with businesses and governments daily.

How We Work

BCG has had a significant presence in the UK since 1970, working with leading companies across the breadth of the economy, supporting clients’ growth, helping them improve productivity, become bionic companies, reduce carbon emissions and boost agility. It’s a collaboration that spurs innovation, enabling clients – and the UK – to thrive amidst environmental, societal and industrial change.

Launched in 2022, the Centre for Growth combines BCG’s expertise with the unique experience of our team, including people who have served as senior policymakers in the public sector and others who have spent decades working with private sector companies – to identify and deliver opportunities to energise UK growth.

To fully understand the UK business environment, our work is centred around three key areas:

1. UK Macroeconomics. Supporting our clients with short and medium outlooks on the UK economy and key sectors.
2. Deep Dive Research. Developing in-depth analyses and identifying breakthrough initiatives to drive growth in key areas across the UK economy.
3. Expert Advisory. Helping clients and stakeholders understand what the economic and policy landscape in the UK means for them and their market.