Yorkshire Forward has been urged to back Bradford's winning companies as part of its bid to boost the region.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce has called on the Regional Development Agency to support the district's growing electronics firms - such as Pace Micro Technology and Filtronic Comtek and its chemical companies such as Ciba and A H Marks.

The Chamber is also urging the RDA to help improve the district's skills level, support existing firms, helping to bring in new ones and regenerating former wool mills instead of putting up manufacturing 'sheds'.

Sandy Needham, the Chamber's chief executive, said: "We want Yorkshire Forward to support Bradford's winners and that means firms in the electronics and chemical sector. We also want the RDA to look at regenerating older buildings such as wool mills instead of planning new buildings on the M1/A1 corridor."

The suggestions were part of the Chamber's submission to Yorkshire Forward as part of its wide-ranging consultation for its draft Regional Economic Strategy which is due to be presented to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott tomorrow by Graham Hall, Yorkshire Forward's chairman.

More than 6,000 individuals, organisations and businesses have been involved in shaping the strategy which aims to make the region more competitive and create jobs.

Mr Hall will be given a send-off from Leeds railway station to London by Bradford boy Sam Tewari, nine, and Neema Patel, 11, who will be of employable during the lifetime of the ten-year plan.

Mr Hall said: "This has been an outstanding consultation exercise to gauge the views of those who have a direct influence on the economic prosperity of the region."

Almost a fifth of responses came from the businesses and Chamber of Commerce with employers highlighting the need for a flexible and skilled workforce, both for young people entering the jobs market and an overall higher level of skills.

Mr Hall added: "We are seeking the Government's support by the end of the year so we can start the new Millennium with optimism."

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