UK manufacturing firms are losing out on a whole month of work each year just waiting for decisions to be made. This eye-opening insight comes from fresh research commissioned by The Meetings Show, which highlights how slow decision-making and collaboration hurdles are taking a toll on productivity.
Managers in the manufacturing sector are reporting that they spend an average of four hours each week waiting for decisions or trying to get clearer information. When you add that up, it amounts to a staggering 208 hours—or 26 full working days—of lost productivity each year.
These findings are part of the UK Productivity Gap Index, a new study that draws on data from Northstar Meetings Group and Cvent’s PULSE research. Conducted by 3Gem in collaboration with The Business of Events, the survey gathered insights from 1,000 business leaders across the UK, exploring how collaboration, decision-making, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) are shaping organizational performance.
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As AI continues to make its mark in UK businesses, it’s bringing both opportunities and new challenges. About a third (33%) of manufacturing leaders say that AI has already made a major or significant impact on their operations. This aligns closely with the broader survey results, where 36% of leaders noted a major or significant operational impact, and another 30% reported moderate disruptions.
The research underscores that productivity issues often stem from a lack of alignment rather than a lack of effort. In fact, more than one in five (22%) manufacturing leaders believe that poor collaboration is cutting productivity by 20% or more, which is notably higher than the average estimated productivity loss of 14% across all sectors surveyed.
The UK Productivity Gap Index has revealed that businesses are losing out on the equivalent of 25 working days each year due to productivity hurdles. A striking 50% of leaders admitted that projects often hit a wall because decisions take too long, while 47% noted that meetings frequently wrap up without clear takeaways. Additionally, 43% mentioned that teams often find themselves revisiting decisions that should have already been settled.
The importance of face-to-face collaboration
This research challenges the notion that technology alone can boost efficiency. In fact, 62% of respondents believe that AI is actually increasing the need for human interaction and better alignment, rather than diminishing it.
In-person engagement remains crucial for navigating complexity, with nearly two-thirds (65%) of leaders stating that complex or sensitive decisions are made more swiftly when discussed face-to-face. This figure jumps to 82% for significant business decisions.
The results also indicate that while hybrid working has brought some improvements, challenges persist. A majority (59%) of leaders reported that knowledge-sharing has enhanced since the pandemic. However, 58% of leaders in manufacturing feel that hybrid work is hindering the growth of early-career employees, compared to 50% across all sectors.
Industry leaders advocate for stronger collaboration
A spokesperson for The Business of Events commented:
“This research underscores a fundamental change in how productivity challenges are surfacing within UK organizations. It’s not just about how hard people work anymore; it’s about how effectively teams align, make decisions, and push work forward.
“As organizations embrace AI and more flexible working arrangements, the need for clarity and shared understanding becomes even more critical. Without that alignment, technology might speed up activity, but it doesn’t guarantee progress.
“What this study highlights is that collaboration, especially when it brings people together to tackle complexity, is vital for business performance.”
Jack Marczewski, the Portfolio Event Director of The Meetings Show, shared his insights:
“We aimed for this research to truly capture how work unfolds within organizations today. It shows that productivity isn’t just about having the right tools or putting in more hours. It hinges on how well teams come together, make decisions, and push projects ahead.
“With AI becoming a bigger part of our workplaces, the importance of making clear and confident decisions is more crucial than ever. Creating the right environment for collaboration plays a key role in achieving that.
“We’re excited to dive deeper into these findings at The Meetings Show and collaborate with the industry to help organizations tackle these challenges.”
Research to be explored at The Meetings Show 2026
These findings will be unpacked further at The Meetings Show, the UK’s premier exhibition for the meetings and events sector, happening at Excel London from June 24–25, 2026. This event will also feature the Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show.
The UK Productivity Gap Index was completed by managers, business owners, and C-suite executives from companies with over 20 employees across various sectors, including IT, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. The research delves into how decision-making, collaboration, and AI adoption influence productivity outcomes.
You can download the report from The Meetings Show website.
