BRADFORD Live is looking for local businesses to help breathe life into the city's new entertainment venue, as the regeneration project reaches the next stage.

From IT to facility management, food and beverage to printing, businesses across West Yorkshire are being invited by the team at Bradford Live to be a part of the project ahead of it opening its doors in late 2022.

The venue is prioritising the local and regional market for suppliers from all sectors and is set to host a supplier day in mid-September, offering companies the chance to meet Bradford Live’s operating team.

Run by the UK’s leading live events business, the NEC Group, the venue hopes to welcome 300,000 visitors each year to a host of events when it opens next year.

The supplier day will be co-hosted by NEC Group’s food and beverage director Marc Frankl and director of partnerships and media, Chris Pile.

They said: “The next stage of the Bradford Live project is now underway as we search for local companies to help shape the future of the venue.

“We are so excited to take the next step in regenerating this landmark and we want businesses that feel they can add to the project, to get in touch and join us on the journey. This is an open call, no matter what your specialism, whether you are a potential supplier, sponsor or future contractor we want to hear from you.”

Keighley-based contractor RN Wooler & Co Ltd was appointed in March as the main contractor for the works on the 1930s building, which are expected to last around 18 months.

Internal works have been ongoing for a number of months, and RN Wooler is now on site having begun the the main work.

The former cinema and theatre has been empty for over two decades, and its future has long been a talking point in the city.

The Bradford Live project will see the building turned into a 4,000 live music venue, and will create around 50 full time equivalent positions upon completion, as well as a further 60 temporary construction jobs.

Bradford Live has a long-term lease from the building owner, Bradford Council, and has an agreement in place to sublease it to the NEC Group as operator in what is a 30-year deal.

Opening in 1930 as the New Victoria, the building changed its name to The Gaumont in 1950. For three decades after 1969, the building became an Odeon cinema and Top Rank bingo club, before finally closing its doors in 2000.

Faced with demolition, a grass-roots campaign group fought successfully to save the building, with Bradford Live taking up the challenge in 2012 to find a long-term viable use for the iconic Bradford building.

In 2016, Bradford Live secured the NEC Group as the venue’s future operator.

To register your interest as a potential supplier visit bradfordlive.co.uk/supplier.