PRICEWATERHOUSE Coopers has opened its new 9,000 sq ft office in Godwin Street, Bradford, staffed by more than 80 recruits from the local area.

Last night saw the official opening of PwC's new Bradford Assurance Centre with the potential to increase staffing to 225 by creating further job opportunities in the city over the next few years.

Over 120 guests attended the event at the centre with representatives from Bradford Council, Leeds City Region LEP, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Enterprise Partnership, all of whom were intergral to making PwC's move to the city possible.

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Also present was Bradford South MP Judith Cummins who made an opening address.

The professional services firm says the centre will help it "continue to provide quality and exceptional client service in changing times, standardising work in key areas of their engagements to be able to use technology effectively through automation".

It says the new Assurance Centre will help develop skills and boost employability irrespective of background.

Will Richardson, PwC’s Leeds Office Senior Partner, said: “I was delighted to welcome so many guests to the official opening of our new Bradford centre, many of whom played a vital part in making our move to Bradford happen.

"Our new PwC Assurance Centre is one of our key priorities in delivering a best in class proposition as one of the world’s leading professional services firms. Not only will it offer our people the opportunity to work more flexibly and help reduce the travel required, they will also gain great experience working with a breadth of nationally based clients from SMEs to large corporations.

“Bradford is one of the largest cities in the UK, and the youngest city, offering a large and talented workforce that has so much to offer not just Northern Powerhouse growth but the UK’s economic growth too. Helping to support inclusive growth by investing in Bradford drives right to the heart of our PwC Purpose and Social Mobility agenda.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “It's great news that such a prestigious brand has chosen to come to Bradford for the first time. It’s also great news for the Leeds City Region that PwC is expanding its presence in our part of the world, creating skilled jobs and opportunities for local people.

“PwC want to attract the talents of the future and it’s brilliant that they acknowledge that Bradford, as the UK’s youngest city, is the place to do that. We look forward to working with them over the coming months and years.”

Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council and Lead Chief Executive for inward investment for Leeds City Region, said: “PwC’s decision to build a presence in Bradford is a further vote of confidence in the dynamism of the sector and talent pool in the city.

“With a strong education sector, great transport links to London and the rest of the North, and a growing international reputation for financial and professional services innovation, it’s no wonder that Leeds City Region is the most significant regional financial and professional services centre in the country. We look forward to working with PwC to make sure their new office is a success both for the firm and for the city.”

The day before the launch event the Assurance Centre also received a visit from Justine Greening MP, who founded a cross party campaign to improve social mobility in the UK. She met and talked to PwC members of staff on what it meant to be able to work for PwC in Bradford.