G&G verified business evidence
The average management-practice score for UK firms with 10 or more employees was 0.55 in 2023 on a scale from 0 to 1.
The ONS Management and Expectations Survey covers firms with 10 or more employees and excludes agriculture, financial services and the public sector. ONS corrected the 2023 average to 0.55.
Corrected ONS estimate; the original release reported 0.57.
Office for National Statistics
Management practices in the UK: 2016 to 2023
The corrected main results report an average management-practice score of 0.55 in 2023.
Office for National Statistics. Management practices in the UK: 2016 to 2023. 13th of May, 2024. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/economicoutputandproductivity/productivitymeasures/bulletins/managementpracticesintheuk/latest
Management systems affect how consistently an SME sets priorities, monitors performance and responds to problems. The national average provides a benchmark, but the size breakdown is especially relevant because firms with 10 to 49 employees recorded lower scores than larger organisations.
The corrected UK mean was 0.55 and the median was 0.60. Average scores rose with employment size: 0.51 for firms with 10 to 19 employees, 0.58 for 20 to 49, 0.63 for 50 to 99, 0.65 for 100 to 249 and 0.68 for 250 or more. Services averaged 0.56 and production 0.52. Continuous improvement scored 0.80, while use of key performance indicators scored 0.42.
The score summarises structured practices across continuous improvement, key performance indicators, targets and employment practices. A higher score means more of these practices were reported; it is not a financial performance rating. The association between management scores and productivity does not by itself prove that changing one practice will cause a particular productivity gain.
The Management and Expectations Survey covers UK production and services firms with at least 10 employees and excludes agriculture, financial services and the public sector. Results are survey estimates weighted to the covered population. ONS corrected the scoring for 2019, 2020 and 2023 in July 2024, reducing the 2023 mean from 0.57 to 0.55. Microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees are outside scope.
G&G perspective: an SME can use the four measured dimensions as a management review checklist. Define a small set of meaningful measures and targets, establish a routine for responding to operational problems, and ensure training, promotion and underperformance decisions follow clear criteria. The value comes from consistent use and review, not from adding paperwork to imitate a national score.
Essential cookies required for the site to function. Cannot be disabled.
Cookies that help us understand how visitors use the site.
Cookies used to deliver relevant advertisements.
Privacy Policy Terms of Service
