A NEW research project has been undertaken by organisations in York in a bid to tackle productivity and poverty.

York St John University Business School, in partnership with Leeds Beckett University, has been commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to undertake a new research project in a bid to make a difference to the prosperity Leeds City Region, which includes York.

The Action Research on Poverty project will address how improvements in productivity and performance in organisations can also benefit individuals, families and local economies to work towards overcoming the effects of unemployment, poverty and ill-health.

The research project, which aims to complete in January 2016, will engage chief executives from major anchor organisations which have a significant role to play in the social, economic and cultural development of city regions.

Josh Stott, head of team at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Innovative approaches to workforce development and procurement can improve productivity and performance.

"This project provides a unique opportunity for anchor organisations to identify and develop those approaches which we believe will make a significant difference to the city region’s prosperity through more and better paid jobs."

The York St John University’s Business School and Leeds Beckett University project team is systematically identifying anchor organisations in the city region which are willing to collaborate to help make a difference to how people are recruited, employed, trained and paid.

For information on how anchor organisations in the Leeds City Region can get involved, visit www.jrf.org.uk or contact Robert Garvey, Professor of Business Education, York St John Business School r.garvey@yorksj.ac.uk.