Accessibility statement
 

Response to the Economic Impact of Covid and Future Trends in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council and The University of York Partnership

The University of York (UoY) and North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) have been working in partnership to help NYCC develop their post Covid-19 social and economic recovery plans, through a research-informed collaboration. This has involved the University reviewing data, producing videos, writing policy briefs and holding workshops.

In Autumn 2020, North Yorkshire County Council approached the University of York to collaborate on a project to support NYCCs work to develop a research-informed post covid recovery plan. As part of the initial work five key themes were identified as areas where the University had expertise that could support the council's project. These five themes were

1. Workforce and Skills
2. Low Carbon Infrastructure and Business Growth
3. Technology Change and I.T. Development
4. Agriculture and Food Manufacturing
5. Housing

Outputs

More than 20 colleagues from the School for Business and Society, Department of Economics, Stockholm Environment Institute York, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, Department of Archaeology, XR Stories, DC Labs and Centre for Housing Policy, have been working on various projects over the past twelve months. They have delivered a wide range of outputs focussed on helping NYCC develop new policies to address specific areas and understand the impact of both existing and new policies on the economic and social impacts of Covid-19 in North Yorkshire.

Outputs have included policy briefs, videos, workshops and research reviews. The videos and policy briefs have been produced to imaginatively promote many of the themes and target researchers, academics and the public, who would like to find out more about the collaboration.

Future Work

Although the majority of the initial project outputs have been delivered, there is clear enthusiasm, commitment and scope from both sides for further collaboration. There have been discussions too on new emerging themes, such as ageing in coastal communities, the impacts of green and blue space on health and wellbeing for older populations, the economic aspects of elderly populations, and how to attract more creative industries to North Yorkshire.

NYCC are currently reviewing the recommendations of the policy documents and considering future areas for collaboration.

This has been a significant opportunity for us to proactively deliver on the University Strategy and Institutional KE activities, by developing and extending our engagement as key partners with local government. The project outputs contribute to the enhancement of the University’s reputation with stakeholders and demonstrate the reach of our research through knowledge exchange. The projects showcase the key role we have as an anchor institution in supporting regional strategic initiatives.

Our thanks go to University of York colleagues and North Yorkshire County Council staff, who have collaborated to achieve the success of these projects, in response to the pandemic. We look forward to working together on a second phase of innovative approaches, which will help deliver economic recovery, prosperity, diversity and quality of life to the North Yorkshire community.

Projects in Brief

Theme 1: Workforce and Skills

UoY Colleagues: Peter Ball, Tina Kowalski, Jane Suter, Bob Townley

The impact of Covid-19 on business resilience and individuals wellbeing. The University of York developed a number of policy recommendations including community support, help for SME businesses and workforce well-being.

Theme 2: Low Carbon Infrastructure and Business Growth (1)

UoY Colleagues: Peter Ball, Luisa Huatuco, Paola Zerilli

NYCC aims to reduce its carbon footprint to as close to zero as possible by 2030, by reducing carbon emissions through operational activities, through procurement activity and driving policy changes to enable the transition to a low carbon economy. Colleagues from the School for Business and Society developed a sectoral analysis of the economy in North Yorkshire considered both economic and environmental factors to determine how the different sectors could be aligned towards the NYCC’s strategy of becoming carbon neutral by 2034 and carbon negative by 2040. It is hoped that this analysis will provide useful input for policy makers when setting targets and defining priority sectors for addressing the climate change challenge.

Theme 2: Low Carbon Infrastructure and Business Growth (2)

UoY Colleagues: Gary Haq/SEI York, Anwen Hughes

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) York (based at UoY) conducted research based on NYCC’s low carbon agenda.They carried out a review of current and planned NYCC policies on the carbon reduction of NYCC operations and reported GHG emissions and key challenges. A literature review of measures to reduce the carbon impact of local authority operations and identify best practice in selected areas was carried and the potential GHG emission reduction based on reported emissions and relevance to NYCC has been determined. Cost, delivery mechanism and implications for NYCC operations were part of the work carried out.

Theme 3: Technology Change and IT Development

UoY Colleagues: Claire Boardman, Emma Brown, Isabel Jagoe, Jon Swords

Using a brief detailing how the ‘digital divide’ is currently being experienced by minority and marginalised communities within the City of York, staff plan to explore how this research can be applied to the needs of individuals and the existing initiatives to reduce digital poverty in North Yorkshire.
It is hoped that the analysis will provide a useful input for policy makers when setting priorities and designing strategies to ensure digital inclusion

Read the Digital Creativity blog about the research which includes all the key findings

Theme 4: Agriculture and Manufacturing

UoY Colleagues: Peter Ball, Bob Doherty, Ariadne Kapetanki

NYCC is interested in the impact of Covid-19 on the food systems and agriculture sector. The UoY policy brief recommended six practical interventions for school food in North Yorkshire to help them address complex challenges and break long-term cycles of unhealthy eating in childhood.

Theme 5: Housing

UoY Colleague: Nicholas Pleace

The impact of Covid on potential population shifts, from urban to rural, affecting the demand for NYCC infrastructure such as schools, innovative approaches to new house builds and greening existing housing as part of the net zero agenda is a key challenge for NYCC. The UoY led a sub-regional housing workshop to identify key areas of future collaboration. The results of the workshop suggested that the top priorities are affordable/social housing financing and supply, housing/social care and later life (including adaptations), and net-zero, primarily around retrofitting.