In September, around 30 of Bradford's rising stars will get together to learn about what makes the city tick.

Drawn from industry, the arts and public services, the trainees on the Common Purpose Scheme will learn about each other's jobs and embark on a steep learning curve designed to iron out personal and professional prejudices.

And in June 1999, they will pass out to join an elite but growing group of Common Purpose 'graduates' in Bradford.

Beavering away in their different walks of life, the graduates of what is dubbed 'the street-smart MBA programme' are able to put their superior knowledge of Bradford to good use.

Common Purpose is an educational charity. The Bradford branch was the fourth to be set up nationwide and is now one of 43 programmes up and down the country.

Course trainees attend an initial residential two day course at Bradford and Ilkley Community College, followed by a series of nine day-long briefings, one a month, on different aspects of Bradford life.

The thinking behind Common Purpose is simple and the programme aims to benefit both the individuals taking part and the district as a whole.

How? By sharing specialist knowledge so that it becomes general knowledge.

By breaking down personal and professional prejudices, to reveal common ground.

And by encouraging collaboration between individuals and sectors.

In Bradford, a city with a particularly diverse population, the scheme is more valuable than ever.

One strong supporter is David Anderson, chief executive of the Yorkshire Building Society, who has sent several YBS employees on the course. "People have been able to lift the lid off their city and look inside - they get an insight, warts and all, into all aspects of the city's life.

"Quite a lot of their views, or dare I say it prejudices, have been changed as a result of contacts they have made."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.