THE BOSS of Britain’s biggest business body says Unipart could be a blueprint for other firms around the country.

CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn praised the Cowley-based logistics giant’s efforts to boost productivity.

And she described its Unipart Way programme, which centres on building staff’s personal as well as technical skills, as “relevant” to all types of business.

Ms Fairbairn toured the firm’s Garsington Road plant on Friday with Unipart chairman and group chief executive John Neill.

She said: “The real strength of the Unipart Way and what John Neill has been an evangelist for, is what businesses can do and control themselves.

“That is what is so exciting and relevant about it for other firms across the country.

“There are many things in the Unipart Way that are relevant to all sorts of businesses and I would love to see more of them take this on.”

Described by Ms Fairbairn as an “employee-led approach”, the Unipart Way includes teaching problem-solving skills and encouraging suggestions for improvement.

Onsite is corporate university Unipart U, a knowledge management factory and teaching office.

Economists, concerned productivity in UK businesses is below that of other G7 countries, refer to ‘the productivity puzzle’.

Unipart, whose clients include Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Vodafone, Sky and National Grid, signed a new deal with national tool hire firm HSS in April, creating 100 jobs.

Group revenue rose by 10 per cent to reach £869m for the year to April.

And profits were £27.5m - up six per cent on the previous 12 months.

The firm, which employs 1,500 workers in Cowley and more than 7,000 worldwide, also acts as a consultancy, advising other companies how to boost their productivity rate.

In November last year, the firm launched a national campaign to promote the Unipart Way.

This included national press advertising, social media and documentaries featuring interviews with top business leaders.

Mr Neill said: “As a longstanding member of the CBI, we were very pleased to welcome Carolyn and share our view that Britain can become Europe’s productivity champion with the right level of focus and commitment from government and business.

“Over the past 25 years, Unipart has invested in creating a comprehensive ecosystem called The Unipart Way which continuously improves productivity in any organisation.

“We have demonstrated that it is a solution to Britain’s productivity puzzle.”