Bradford Kickstart, which is funded by Bradford Council, 'Be Enterprising', is a free service for people living in Bradford who are thinking about starting up their own business or want to explore the idea, but have been put off by all the red tape this can involve.

It is on offer to anyone living in the district, but it specifically targets social housing tenants. In particular, those that are unemployed, young people aged between 18-25, women and people from black and minority ethnic communities.

We will deliver the project by working in partnership with four other housing associations - Bradford Community Housing Trust, Manningham Housing Association, Brunel Housing and Places for People.

Two dedicated business advisors and one community engagement officer will be responsible for delivering the initiative.

Kickstart is having a positive effect on local regeneration, by empowering people to change not only their own quality of life, but also to contribute to the regeneration of their local community.

Kickstart recognises the hardest part of setting up a business is to ensure that it continues to get the support it needs to grow and develop beyond the first year. In light of this, the partnership commits to assist new businesses, where trade is applicable, by making their supply chains more accessible.

It also makes a commitment to tackle barriers to training and employment by providing opportunities for tenants to gain relevant skills through existing courses such as Enterprise Training, e2e, and construction and apprenticeship schemes.

The partnership will continue to develop people's self-confidence and independence, which in turn will enable them to make a more active in decision making within their communities

For more information, contact Nassara Bostan on 01274 767 841.