Innovation in services

Author:
Various

Published:
August 2008

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Description:

These reports cover innovation in five service sectors of the UK economy. They were produced as part of a joint project with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), working in close collaboration with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The project was started in 2007, following NESTA’s work on hidden innovation and BERR’s previous work on innovation in services.

BERR established five business-led Sector Innovation Groups (SIGs), in internet content services, logistics, retail, environmental services, and construction. Together, these sectors account for 25% of the UK economy. The SIGs comprised 6-12 companies (with the exception of logistics, which was primarily led by trade associations). The SIGs advised BERR on the drivers of change in these sectors, the way innovation has developed and how it might be measured, the barriers to innovation, and the scope for effective government intervention.  

In partnership with BERR, NESTA commissioned research to complement the work of the SIGs across the five sectors. You can view these reports by clicking on the above links.

Definition of service

The full report, which synthesises the findings from across the sectors and details actions for Government, can be found on the BERR website:

Supporting Innovation in Services full report
Supporting Innovation in Services executive summary
Innovation in Construction Services

The Innovation in Construction Services report was prepared by BERR’s construction unit. It was informed by the SIGs and then agreed with the Strategic Forum for Construction, which brings together umbrella bodies representing the trade associations in the industry.

NESTA and BERR also commissioned a further, supporting research report, International Construction Services, which examines international examples of service driven innovation in construction. To view this report, please click on the link above.  

Related policy work: