Small Business of the Year

The Telegraph & Argus has joined forces with the Bradford Chamber and Bradford Council to stage the awards, which honour businesses of all sizes from across the district.

A firm already entered into the awards is The Bazaar indoor market in Cemetery Road, Bradford.

The market, which has entered into the Small Business of the Year category, sponsored by supermarket giant Morrisons, hosts 160 stalls, offering its traders the chance to grow their own businesses within the market.

The great variety of stall holders offer a range of wares, including Asian and western clothes, Asian jewellery, footwear and homewares.

It is a self-proclaimed “must-visit shopping destination for Asian people and others interested in a multi-cultural experience”.

Director Hassan Ali said: “Most of them (the traders) have been there since we opened, they have grown their business with the bazaar.

“We are providing a space for work for a lot of people.”

He said where some businesses struggle through winter, the bazaar had enjoyed a busy few months.

The business, which has been running for 18 months, has been “packed out full from day one”, Mr Ali said.

“We are generally pretty full because traders tend to stay,” he said. “People like working for themselves.”

Mr Ali said coach trips often visited the market, which he said he believed reminded people of bazaars in Asia.

He added: “We have got about 30 or 40 Pakistani ladies who have set up stalls there in the market.

“Because of language barriers they might struggle to find work somewhere else but they are enjoying success at the bazaar.”

The deadline for entries to the Bradford Means Business Awards is Friday, February 11.

An online entry form and a full run-down of the categories are available at telegraphandargus.co.uk/bradfordmeansbusiness.

The awards night will be held at the Aagrah restaurant group’s Midpoint Suite in Thornbury.