NEW research has underlined Bradford’s reputation as a leading location for corporate headquarters.

Latest analysis from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO shows the city is home to 16 of Yorkshire’s biggest 250 companies,which generate combined revenues of £22.6 billion and employ 133,000 people.

The heavyweight businesses include the Big Four grocer Morrisons, Yorkshire’s largest family-owned company the automotive retailer JCT600, the FTSE 100 specialist lender Provident Financial and Yorkshire Water.

Stripping out Morrisons, which accounts for 78 per cent of the group’s revenues, the 15 businesses still generated £4.8 billion in revenues and employed 14,000 people.

The manufacturing sector contributed five companies to the list with £760 million in revenues and 2,300 employees.

These include family-run stockholder and processor Barrett Steel, automotive parts supplier BorgWarner UK, agrochemical products specialist Nufarm UK and refrigeration company George Barker.

Jason Whitworth, BDO partner and head of mergers and acquisitions in Yorkshire, said: “It is satisfying to see such a strong performance from Bradford companies in the face of some quite challenging market conditions nationally and internationally.

“The city is home to some of Yorkshire’s biggest and best businesses, representing a diverse set of sectors including manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy services and retail.

“Their ability to create wealth and employment helps to create confidence for all busi-nesses to invest in the city and the wider region.”

BDO analysed the performance of the region’s top 250 companies for the Yorkshire Re-port 2016 using latest data from Companies House.

It found that mid-market firms - those below the top 50 - are driving the regional economy and created 21,000 new jobs last year.

Their profitability soared by 200 per cent to £861million, based on a ten per cent increase to £24.4 billion in turnover. and they also doubled business investment to £2.8 billion.

Mr Whitworth said: “Businesses are proud to invest in Yorkshire but there has to be a quid pro quo.

“Politicians need to consult with businesses about how to take the region forward and draw on external funding available from the Government.

“We seem to be locked in debate over the division of political power in Yorkshire while Manchester is moving ahead with billions of pounds worth of devolution deals covering transport, skills and health.”