BRADFORD’S new Business Improvement District has revealed that it will be based in offices in the city’s “top of the town” area.

The BID will be occupying a first-floor office in a historic building in North Parade which has recently been refurbished and converted into a centre for co-working.

Assembly Bradford is located in the upstairs part of the listed Edwardian commercial chamber and provides serviced office, events and shared working space for a number of small businesses and freelance workers including designers, marketing experts, web developers, animators, architects, writers, fundraisers and illustrators.

Ian Ward, chairman of the BID and general manager at The Broadway shopping centre, said: “We’re keen to support all areas of the city centre and we’re thrilled to have found this ideal office space in such a lovely old building.

“North Parade is a very special part of the city centre and an important part of Bradford’s built heritage and it fits brilliantly with our ethos of supporting local businesses, especially new and growing ones, while keeping the BID’s central cost base at reasonable and affordable levels.

“We want as much of our levy revenue as possible to be spent on actual projects and services that benefit and improve the city centre rather than on administration costs.”

Haigh Simpson, one of Assembly Bradford’s directors, said: “We are delighted that the BID will be occupying an office in Assembly and excited to see what positive developments the team will bring to the city centre.

“We hope to see a mutually beneficial relationship develop between our community of freelancers, small businesses and the BID team, and look forward to welcoming many new visitors to our space as a result of the BID’s presence.”

A number of other city centre businesses are also set to benefit from BID contracts and support.

Law firm Gordons, who are based in Duke Street, will be handling the BID’s legal affairs, and Naylor Wintersgill, based in Grammar School Street, will look after its accounts.

IT support will be provided by internet services provider Exa Networks, whose offices are in Bolton Road, and they will be installing their ultra-fast dark fibre broadband to the BID offices to help make its operations as efficient as possible.

Mr Ward said: “The delivery of the BID’s Business Plan will be supported by the introduction and implementation of an interactive dashboard and reporting system to facilitate all aspects of our projects.”

Mark Cowgill, co-founder and director of Exa Networks, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to help get the BID up and running by supplying our internet.”