When jobs are lost, it is often on a grand scale with dozens, scores and even hundreds of people being thrown out of work and making the headlines.

But not all the news on the employment front is bad. There are job gains too, but they come in smaller packages - like the employment for local people which has come about through the efforts of a special fund run by the Royds Community Association to help them to set up their own businesses.

This appears to be an excellent scheme, working at grassroots level to help people to get started with practical assistance such as organising a business plan and arranging a start-up grant. So far 11 businesses have opened, ranging from making fire surrounds to car valeting to forming a jazz band, creating 31 new jobs.

Even if ultimately some of these businesses fail, by the law of averages others will keep going and some will thrive, providing employment for still more people. Mighty oaks can grow from little acorns.

More schemes of this sort are needed across Bradford. There is plenty of scope for them to expand from offering expertise and grants to also providing accommodation.

There is no shortage of disused mills and factories. Somewhere like Manningham Mills, particularly, could offer a home to scores of small units. It would be an ideal base for entrepreneurs to get their businesses started working as a group.

All it needs is support for the scheme linked to the imagination of a local fund manager to tap into sources of regeneration money and make it happen.