AN INDEPENDENT retailer selling home accessories and gifts, is receiving business rates relief after moving into the Kirkgate Shopping Centre in Bradford.

Zuuluu Tribal Ltd has moved to the unit which was vacated by jewellers Pandora which has moved to the Broadway shopping centre.

Zuuluu hopes to create three jobs and as a result it benefits from £45,000 business rates relief as part of Bradford Council's City Centre Business Growth Zone Scheme which is aimed at attracting new businesses to Bradford .

Its owners, Neelum Mukhtar and Mark Harrison, have developed the business after setting up a temporary market stall on the upper level of the shopping centre.

Mr Mukhtar is a health care professional who studied fashion design at Bradford College and is experienced in buying and trend forecasting.

Mr Harrison has had 35 years in the clothing and retail industry, with experience at John Lewis, Dunelm and Kookai.

Due to a high demand for their gifts, the pair looked for more permanent premises and decided to lease a retail unit in the centre.

Zuuluu offers hand-made and ethically sourced jewellery, clothing and accessories. It also has a smaller section selling Steampunk and Gothic jewellery.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "It's great to hear that another independent retailer has set up business in Kirkgate shopping centre.

"It's good to have such individual retailers in the shopping mix with big names to provide a wide choice for shoppers.

"The Business Growth Scheme has been a great boost to businesses investing here and making it a more exciting shopping destination."

The £17.6 million Government funding package was secured by Council which has matched the funding to start the £35m scheme in November 2012.

The aim of creating the growth zone was to stimulate investment and private sector growth in the city centre through a range of incentives.

These included a rate rebate for eligible businesses who created new employment opportunities, either by locating or expanding in the city centre.

At the same time resources were ploughed into a skills programme to enable local people to take up those opportunities.

Nearly 600 jobs have been created since the scheme was introduced.

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