THREE Bradford firms are backing Leeds’s bid to be named European Capital of Culture 2023 as a report details spin-off benefits for the region should it be successful.

Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Building Society and Leeds Bradford Airport are among around a dozen businesses which are involved in sponsoring the bid.

It comes as cabinet members at Kirklees Council are being asked to support the Leeds bid due to the regional benefits it will bring.

Cabinet member for resources Councillor Graham Turner is calling for the authority to support the bid. He said: “This is because the Leeds bid presents a significant opportunity for Leeds and the wider region, including Kirklees, in terms of cultural, social and economic benefits.”

He is also encouraging the involvement of cultural organisations from Kirklees in the bid.

“This bid provides an opportunity to develop a regional brand for the cultural offer and should stimulate more joined-up ways of working between local authorities and cultural organisations across the region,” he added.

A report to next week’s cabinet meeting outlines how Leeds would like its bid to be adopted as a “northern bid”.

If it is successful, residents across West Yorkshire will be able to access diverse cultural activities in Leeds, but there should also be opportunities for some of the activities to take place in Kirklees, it adds.

In addition there will be opportunities for regional artists to get involved in the Leeds programme and the region will also hopefully benefit from any tourism initiatives.

When its backing of the bid was announced, Tanya Jackson, head of corporate affairs at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “As a major employer in Yorkshire we are proud to back the Leeds 2023 bid to secure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Leeds to take its place on Europe’s stage.

“We will be champions for the region’s cultural diversity and provide inspiring opportunities for our colleagues and members to help share and shape the great story Leeds 2023 has to tell.

“As the only bid from the North, if successful it will bring social and economic benefits that will have a lasting and positive impact on the region.”

The outline bid is to be submitted in October and final decision will be made in autumn 2018.