When Selfridges first opened its doors in 1909, it drew crowds by turning shopping into an adventure, using theatre and innovation. Bleriot’s monoplane was displayed there fresh from its maiden Channel crossing and John Logie Baird chose the store to first demonstrate television to the public.

UK productivity has been highlighted as an economic weakness for over a decade. Yet, in response to the pandemic, businesses have shown that they can utilise technology to create entirely new ways of working.

There are many different ways to boost productivity. One way is through investing in infrastructure. Another way is by making sure that people have access to high quality education. Find out more from our guest Bart van Ark, Professor at the Productivity Institute.

Retailers need to stop expecting business to return to “normal”. 

Successful businesses and economies are increasingly built on intangible or ‘knowledge assets’ rather than physical ones.

Today’s consumers are experiencing a renewed appreciation of the value of retail, as well as the importance that shopping brings to their quality of life.

The great reset of the pandemic has the potential to launch the UK’s productivity back on course, following record low levels in 2019 – but the key to unlocking post-pandemic productivity not only lies in further and greater technology adoption, but also in reskilling.

Is online the future, and are high streets flourishing? Just as they have for centuries, bricks and mortar retailers are reinventing themselves – competing and complementing the online option, and even stealing a march on it.

Between the collapse of 83% of the UK’s department stores, consumers moving online and many high street shops now becoming obsolete, town centres are no longer the beating heart of local economies they once were.

Hearing that we had achieved 98% overall satisfaction was probably the first time in my professional career where I have had an emotional response.