A new business centre with an unusual business model has officially opened for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in Bradford.

The Hope Park Business Centre, in Rooley Lane, offers small office space for businesses to rent out, and is an offshoot of the first Hope Park centre based in Eurocam Technology Park, West Bowling.

The building is owned and operated by TLG - The Children’s Charity, a Bradford-based organisation that helps children and young people in difficult circumstances such as bereavement, family breakdown, poverty or being in the care system, and aims to provide them with an education, care, and hope for the future.

All profits made by the centre go towards the charity.

Opening the new facility, which has office rooms of varying sizes and a meeting room, was Suzanne Watson, vice-president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce. She said: “This is a magnificent space. As a small business owner myself, I can honestly appreciate the value of this sort of facility for any small business or start-up.

“Bradford is known for its entrepreneurial success, and this is an immense platform to launch a business from.

“It is also an immense business model for the district, as social responsibility is a big part of running a business these days. And as well as helping business start up and grow, TGL is also supporting the next generation of young people to help them grow into the people we all know they can become.”

TLG - The Children’s Charity was founded by Tim Morfin, who moved to the city to study at the University of Bradford and never left.

He said: “This is a significant step for TLG and for business in Bradford. It is ten years since we opened our first centre and it has been amazing to see what has happened since.

“With age comes experience and we have a decade’s experience supporting businesses to enjoy where they work and to grow their business. It has been a remarkable story, and proves this location in Bradford is so popular, as it provides access to the whole of the north of England.”

Mr Morfin was first inspired to start the charity while volunteering at a church in Great Horton 20 years ago where he saw the problems children can face, and TLG now supports more than 1,000 young people from all across the UK as well as in Bradford. Around 55 per cent of the centre has already been let to small businesses.