UNIVERSITY of Kent researchers have launched a ground-breaking project to boost business performance across the county.

The Promoting Sustainable Performance project aims to help 300 companies by analysing their strengths and weaknesses and undertaking research.

It is the brainchild of the Centre for Regional Business Productivity (CRBP), one of five research centres at Kent Business School, part of the University of Kent.

The CRBP is recruiting two full-time researchers to conduct face-to-face interviews with key staff in organisations throughout Kent and Medway, as well as producing detailed case studies.

CRBP director Dr Mark Gilman said: "We aim to provide a far more qualitative approach to measuring organisational performance than has been achieved to date by other methods of benchmarking.

"Previous models have tended to capture performance on a singular one-off basis rather than on an ongoing analytical basis.

"Promoting Sustainable Performance is a dynamic and long-term project. It is envisaged that that we will provide an annual measurement and analysis service for firms, initially in Kent and Medway, creating a rich source of both quantitative and qualitative organisational performance data."

Dr Gilman, who is also a senior lecturer for Kent Business School, hopes the project will eventually extend beyond the county to national and international companies.

"We have big ambitions and intend to play a key role in bringing the University and the business world together - using our world-class research to engage with employers, with the ultimate goal of improving business productivity and efficiency."

One of the CRBP’s next targets is the creation of an online business forum, which will provide both advice and guidance for firms, and additional networking opportunities.

The CRBP has also staged a series of practical workshops for small to medium- sized enterprises, which gave business executives an opportunity to tackle issues of leadership and change within their organisations.

More than 100 participants from the business community attended the events, held at the University’s Canterbury and Medway campuses.