[2] The idea for the Anglo-American Council on Productivity came jointly from Stafford Cripps, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Paul G. Hoffman, the Marshall Plan administrator, in July 1948.
[3] Initial media coverage was unfavourable and trade union leaders were irritated that they had not been consulted and at the implication that British industry needed American help.
[3] Though there is no clear evidence that Britain significantly benefited from the AACP,[5] the exercise was seen as "a great success" by its sponsors, leading to the establishment of the BPC in 1953.
[19][21] It also distributed a publication called Target aimed at educating workers and employers about better workplace practices and adapting to changing markets.
[25] National Productivity Year was given patronage by the Duke of Edinburgh and was supported by both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition at the time,[16] Harold Macmillan and Hugh Gaitskell respectively.