ADVICE from commercial property lawyer Nick Chamberlain has helped to progress a six-figure scheme to upgrade two community centres as part of the £49 million Better Start Bradford initiative.

Mr Chamberlain, a partner in the Bradford office of law firm Gordons, advised on agreements between community-owned and run company Bradford Trident and the owners of Karmand Community Centre in Barkerend Road, and St Stephen’s Community Hall in Newton Street .

The premises will undergo improvements costing a combined six-figure sum after Bradford won the largest share of the national £215m Better Start investment in June last year.

The property upgrade will help the two centres deliver the city’s Better Start Bradford initiative which aims to support parents in Bowling, Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton to give 20,000 children aged up to three-years-old, the best possible start in life.

Michaela Howell, Better Start Bradford programme director at Bradford Trident, said: “We’ve been a Gordons client for about 15 years and have been advised by Nick before, so knew we were in safe hands. He was working on the documentation for about six weeks and it had then to be approved by the Big Lottery Fund.

“This sign-off was provided within hours, which in our experience was unprecedented and had to be down to the quality and clarity of the agreements he created.”

Nick Chamberlain added: “It’s a privilege to help Bradford Trident get the Better Start Bradford programme off the ground. There’s strong evidence that what happens in pregnancy and the first three years of life can profoundly affect children’s futures.

“The project aims to prevent costly health problems, such as obesity poor mental health, plus difficult social issues - including neglect and low educational attainment - and everyone at Gordons wishes it well.”

Meanwhile, Gordons has launched a new HR leadership forum enabling companies to collaborate and share their approach to employee engagement, company culture and best practice.

The initiative was conceived by Gordons’ people and change consultant, Sheena Pickersgill, and brings together HR directors, business owners and managing directors to discuss people, performance and change issues, with a focus on creating a high performing culture.

The programme was launched at a forum attended by 20 Yorkshire-based business leaders held in association with Sharp Recruitment Consultancy and PwC. The next HR leadership forum will be held at Gordons’ Leeds office in January

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