TWO Bradford businesses have been awarded grants to boost their productivity.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is currently running a "productivity pilot" that will see £500,000 awarded to local businesses in the form of grants between £25,000 and £100,000.

The pilot will be discussed by the Authority's Business Investment Panel on Friday.

Members will be told that of the seven grants were approved, two were to Bradford Companies - although the authority has not disclosed which businesses benefitted.

Members will be told that all the businesses that applied for the grants came from the engineering/manufacturing sector.

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One is described as "A small business in Bradford investing in new equipment to reduce bottlenecks in the manufacturing process, which is impacting negatively on productivity."

It adds: "The business will also introduce ‘Poka-Yoke’ techniques, which aim to eliminate product defects by preventing, correcting, or drawing attention to, human errors as they occur."

The other is a "Bradford-based SME investing in a range of more technologically advanced equipment and software to increase efficiency and productivity."

Other businesses to be awarded grants include a small Leeds business wanting to invest in "an advanced laser machine" and a Kirklees company investing in "new robotic drills."