Bringing together Bradford's key business organisations is considered a dream come true.

The groups involved, and the firms they were set up to help, have been wanting it for years.

The proposed merger of Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council under one roof means the Chamber's 1,009 members will have more influence over the way Government money is spent on boosting enterprise in the district.

Until recently, the Chamber's immediate past president, John Watson, stood in the way of change. He said: "I thought the Chamber would lose its lobbying role and I wanted to see how other mergers went on."

Now Mr Watson is an ardent supporter of the merger - which helps with his new role as chairman of Business Link.

It will mean that Mercury House, at the end of Manchester Road, is to become the focal point for businesses and training groups in the district.

Sandy Needham, the Chamber's director, gave an assurance that no services would be lost and the organisation would still have a president. Services include lobbying, business and training development, free advice, a datasearch, 60 networking events, international business advice, trade missions and the annual dinner.

David Wilkinson, chief executive of the TEC, will head the new organisation which will have more than 100 staff made up of TEC and Chamber Management Service employees.

He said: "The TEC benefits from this because of an improved access to its primary marketplace because it will be dealing with members."

And Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood has also welcomed the move although the Council has yet to make up its mind.

At present a firm trying to get help has had to search very hard to find the organisation which provided the necessary service.

But, if all the key players are under one roof, there will be scope for having a team of people pointing the way to the services bosses and training providers need.

The new group is expected to be called Bradford Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise.

The feeling is that the district has needed a one-stop shop to give advice and cash assistance to businesses and training organisations for some time.

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