The first of the district’s Industrial Centres of Excellence has been unveiled at Shipley College.

Representatives from four of the region’s leading employers signed up last night to the scheme between Shipley College, Titus Salt School, Bradford Council and companies which will focus on service and finance skills.

The centre, which will be based at the college in Saltaire, will offer a new curriculum for young people which will mix education and business life.

College principal Nav Chohan said: “It is a real coup for Shipley College to be the home of the district’s first centre of excellence. I’ve been so impressed by the commitment of these companies and their ambition to develop Bradford’s young people.”

Representatives from financial advisers Beaumont Robinson, social landlord Incommunities, Provident Financial and Yorkshire Water were last night at the college to sign up to the scheme, which will open for 16 to 18-year-olds next September.

Paul Mackie, vice-chairman of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, and ICE business champion, said: “It is vital businesses play a key role in working alongside education providers to offer young people the skills both they and businesses will need in the future.”

Kath Tunstall, the Council’s strategic director of children’s services, said the authority had funded the ICE scheme to the tune of £1.8 million to help the regeneration of the district.

She said: “It creates a link between schools and colleges and the business community, so that education is very much linked into the regeneration of the Bradford district.”

Greg Robinson, Incommunities assistant chief executive, resources, said: “We aim to bring our business and technical expertise in offering work placements in a wide range of disciplines.”