THE University of York and York St John College have called on local companies to employ more of their graduates to stem the brain drain to the south-east.

The institutions have united with the region's other universities and higher education colleges to encourage businesses to take on students who graduate in Yorkshire.

Michael Noble, chief executive officer of Yorkshire Universities, an umbrella organisation which represents the region's higher education facilities, said: "Graduates are an enormous potential resource for employers, both large and small. Research has shown that they add significantly to the skills base and the effectiveness of companies.

"We need more of our graduates to stay and work in Yorkshire, to help boost the region's economy. The region's universities are one of Yorkshire and Humber's greatest assets that, in the future, will increasingly underpin the region's long-term economic prosperity."

More than half the 40,000 students who graduate in Yorkshire leave the region to work elsewhere, and Yorkshire Universities believes this could be one of the worst examples of brain drain in the country.

The organisation will shortly launch a website called GraduatesYorkshire.info, which aims to make it easier for businesses to recruit graduates. Funded by the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, the site will give companies access to a range of graduate recruitment services.

Professor Brian Cantor, vice-chancellor of the University of York, said: "The City of York has a terrific resource in its graduate population and through

GraduatesYorkshire.info local ompanies will have the ideal tool by which to access new employees.

"In Yorkshire, our universities are generating the workforce of the future, many of which are being lost to the region."

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, April 29, 2003