SMEs need help to drive productivity up Researchers at NatWest have determined that boosting productivity among SMEs could add £140bn to the economy by 2030 - the equivalent of an extra 3.2m jobs. Figures show SME productivity in Britain lags the US by 17% and Germany by 12%. Andrew Harrison, NatWest head of business banking, said: "Support needs to be more closely tailored to their specific needs."