A Bradford-based social enterprise company which helps create jobs and provide homes for vulnerable young people has been named one of the fastest growing inner city businesses in Britain.

Impact Community Developments topped a year which has seen it pick up a clutch of awards when it was named at number 31 in the Inner City 100 Index.

The company's growth rate of 519 per cent in the last three years made it the highest ranked Bradford business in the table.

Marketing manager Aaron Clark said the key to the success was "hard work".

"I am absolutely over the moon," he said "I never dreamed we would do so well and that means we've won three or four awards this year."

Impact, which was founded by former youth worker and current managing director Nigel Delaney, has plans to expand its growth through its mobile phone business Impact Mobile technologies, which advises firms on how to cut the cost of tariffs, and sells handsets.

The major concern of the £1 million turnover business, however, is its maintenance company, staffed by young people who might otherwise have been homeless. They are also given accommodation in a formerly condemned high-rise block which has been transformed into two and three-bedroom flats.

"I think the key to our success is just a lot of hard work and a strong belief in what we do," said Mr Clark. "Other people have also stuck with us when things have been tough and it has been a real team effort to make it a success.

"So much has happened in the last year or so it is untrue and I would just like to hope that it can continue."

The winners were announced at a reception at Downing Street attended by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Four Bradford firms - the joint highest number from any Yorkshire city - were included in the rankings.

Smartstyle Technology Training was ranked at 32 with a growth rate of 491 per cent, followed by PEC Building Services (233 per cent) and Shipley firm Regent Envelopes (207 per cent).

All four businesses took part in a two-day programme of high-level seminars centred on policy and networking.

The awards are designed to promote the work of entrepreneurs who use the potential of inner city areas to build dynamic, fast-growing and profitable businesses.