A Bradford vicar has become the first clergyman to enrol on the University's Business Administration course.

Rev Paul Hackwood, of St Margaret's Church, Thornbury, started the MBA, which aims to give managers a grounding in basic business skills, in September.

Rev Hackwood, who is studying modules in economics, finance, strategy and human resource management, is due to take his first examinations after Christmas.

He said: "It's very important for the Church to be aware of the issues that face business people in the 21st Century, and it's also been very useful to me as vicar of Thornbury, where we run a large community centre and are trying to take our business responsibilities seriously.

"I'm pleased to be doing an MBA at Bradford's Management Centre as it's one of the top ten in the UK, and has an outstanding international reputation."

The Thornbury Centre, which Mr Hackwood manages, is a £3 million church and community site in the heart of inner-city Bradford, partially funded by the Millennium Commission and the European Union.

Business Development Director at the University of Bradford's Management Centre, Robert McClements, said good management was essential for any organisation.

"Over the past few years we have seen increasing interest in our MBA programme from people working in the public sector, the arts and charities," he said, "but Paul is our first vicar and we are delighted to have him on the course.

"MBAs are not just about big business and big profits, we are interested in every type of organisation being well-managed and making the best use of its resources."

Professor Arthur Francis, Dean of the University of Bradford's Management Centre, said he looked forward to greater co-operation between businesses and spiritual organisations in the future.