Businesses in the district are being urged to sign up to a scheme promoting their work to developers and investors over the internet.

This Friday's Buy Bradford event ends a three-year programme by the Council-based Employment Link Team to advance the work of local companies.

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, Bradford Council's executive member for the economy, said: "The Employment Link Team has worked hard to generate business for local firms.

"Over the last two years it has staged 14 free events targeted at key growth sectors including e-commerce, leisure and construction.

"A great deal of investment is under way in the district and it is important local firms and job seekers get the chance to benefit.

"I hope as many companies as possible will come to this event and take up the opportunity of a free subscription to the Buy Bradford database."

More than 700 companies are included in the website and several companies which have already benefited from the database are due to exhibit at the event, including Christopher Pratts Contracts Ltd, Inphi-net and CCL Computers.

Christopher Pratt, finance director at Pratts, said: "We are pleased to support the Buy Bradford scheme, from which we have benefited.

"Bradford business has a lot to offer to both local companies and also in attracting outside investment and developers.

"We see the online database as a valuable forward-thinking tool to bring the respective parties together."

Buy Bradford takes place between noon and 3.30pm at Bradford's Business and Innovation Centre in Angel Way. For details ring (01274) 757727 or to register log on to www.buy-bradford.org.uk.