BUSINESSES across the district have given Bradford's City of Culture bid a swell of support, as it prepares to officially submit its intention to enter the race.

A further 17 local companies have come on board to officially back the bid. Joining as Bid Champions are Bradford-based telecommunications company, ITC, one of the leading telecoms suppliers in the country.

And new bid partners announced include engineering consultancy Arup; Bradford BID (Business Improvement District); Bradford City Football Club; digital infrastructure platform, CityFibre; independent internet service providers, Exa Networks; Muse Developments; Asian restaurant and catering business, My Lahore; commercial law firm, Schofield Sweeney and Welcome to Yorkshire.

And joining as Premium and Club Members are coffee and speciality tea providers Antonia and Panesar; GM Windows; employment law specialists Han Law; Imaje Recruitment; Lyceum Bar & Grill; construction consultants Rex Procter and Partners and the Yorkshire Asian Business Association.

Simon Dew, development director at Muse Developments, which was selected by Bradford Council to bring forward One City Park - a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ office building alongside complementary public realm in the heart of the city centre - said: “As part of our work at One City Park and our commitment to giving back to communities, we’re proud to support Bradford’s 2025 City of Culture bid.

"We’re working in partnership with Bradford Council at One City Park, which is geared towards driving investment, opportunities and prosperity right into the heart of the city, and is clearly aligned to the culture bid. We’ll do our bit to support the team in the hope that this fantastic city, which is rich in history, with aspirations for the future, is crowned the 2025 UK City of Culture.”

Tom Bridges, Director of Arup, added: “Bradford is a dynamic and outward-looking city and district with a rapidly growing, young, diverse population, and superb civic leadership. The city has a rich heritage, contemporary vibrancy and innovation, and a positive outlook. Arup have helped shape projects in Bradford such as City Park, and the proposals for a city centre station for Northern Powerhouse Rail. Many of our staff are very proud to live in Bradford and Arup is delighted to be part of the regeneration and redevelopment plans for future generations and to back Bradford’s bid to be UK City of Culture.”

At a special socially distanced event at Bradford City Football Club to celebrate the surge of local businesses adding their support to the bid, partners heard more about key milestones coming up for the hotly contested competition.

Bid director Richard Shaw said: “Private sector support is vital for any successful bid campaign, and to have such a breadth of businesses on board from the outset who understand the game-changing impact the City of Culture title could have on the district in terms of boosting the economy and driving regeneration, is fantastic. We look forward to drawing on the wide-ranging knowledge and expertise of our partners to help shape our vision for the bid going forward.”

Bradford will join other bidding cities from around the UK in submitting their official intention to bid on July 19. Six longlisted cities will be announced in September then a final shortlist of three cities will be revealed in March 2022 before the winning city is crowned in May 2022.

Businesses and organisations of any size and any location can get involved and help to support Bradford 2025 in a variety of ways including sponsorship and partnership packages. To find out more email mick.chandsoor@bradford2025.co.uk