A new project to help support and raise the profile of Afro-Caribbean businesses in Bradford was today hailed as a welcome boost to the community.

Business Link for West Yorkshire has recruited a new officer to head-up a campaign to encourage those from the Afro-Caribbean community to get into business.

And today McMillan Serrant, of the Bradford organisation Action for Black Community Development (ABCD), welcomed the move.

"This is a small step forward towards developing a real strategy for encouraging people from the Afro-Caribbean community to get involved in business," he said.

Floyd Peltier, 38, who won a BBC Yorkshire Small Business Award for his former leisure company New Edition, will take up the role of Afro-Caribbean business development officer.

His remit will be to encourage start-up businesses and raise awareness about business support services on offer.

Floyd said: "I am very excited at the opportunity to be working with the Afro-Caribbean communities in West Yorkshire.

"One of my first tasks will be to stage a series of high-profile enterprise road shows in October. These will be organised with Afro-Caribbean communities, using speakers and role models to raise awareness of business support provisions for new and existing businesses within West Yorkshire."

Mr Peltier also plans to form Yorkshire's first Black Business Forum which will support businesses in the design, development and delivery of strategies.

Eddie Rodgers, managing director of Business Link for West Yorkshire, said: "It is vital that we identify and support businesses from the Afro-Caribbean community that are going to have a real impact on the future economy of our region both in terms of jobs and urban regeneration.

"This pioneering project will bring together Afro-Caribbean businesses to discuss key issues affecting them and to agree strategic priorities and action plans."

Mr Serrant said there was a "massive strain" on existing business support mechanisms for Afro-Caribbean firms.

"There are a lot of young entrepreneurs that just need a little support to look at issues such as business structure and how businesses work," he said.

"We have also got some very good Afro-Caribbean businesses out there already that can be encouraged to help those just starting out."

For more details, contact Mr Peltier on (0113) 242 5996.