Chief pledges Morrisons' backing to promote city

The new chief executive of Morrisons has promised to act as a champion for Bradford to help bring new businesses to the city.

Dalton Philips promised that the supermarket giant's commitment to Bradford would stay as strong as under its founder, Sir Ken Morrison.

In a speech at last night's annual chamber dinner, he said the company would do all it could "to help promote Bradford as a great place to do business, to trumpet its strengths and help tackle any weaknesses".

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Mr Philips added: "I have only been here a few months but I have been hugely impressed by what I have seen and heard. There is a tremendous energy, determination and entrepreneurial spirit.

"Perhaps no one should be surprised by this. After all, Ken Morrison himself was effectively self-employed when he took over the family business. This can-do attitude remains strong."

He said the city should promote its hidden strength of having the largest growth in self-employment of any city in the UK.

He also highlighted the strength of the city's manufacturing base, its young and fast-growing population, cultural diversity and third-placed ranking in a recent index of happiness in UK cities.

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But he warned that the city would have to overcome high unemployment, particularly among the young, and lack of skills to achieve its potential.

He said that Morrisons, which employs 5,500 people in the city, was playing its part in training employees, with an apprentice scheme, fresh food academy and corporate degree programme with Bradford University School of Management.

The company also has its own slaughtermen and house-trained butchers, bakers and fishmongers.

Mr Philips said: "We have to make it easier for all companies, big and small, to invest in training. So I am keen to see if there are ways we can share our experience in skills with the wider business community here."

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He added: "The more we together make the city an attractive place to work and live, the better for all our businesses.

"We can grow together, just as many businesses have grown with Morrisons over the last half century.

"It will make it easier, too, for us to attract talented individuals to come and work for us – and to keep the young talent already in the city."

Mr Philips met with Bradford council chief executive Tony Reeves this month and told him he wanted to champion the city to outside investors. "I promised enthusiastically and sincerely to give them the hard sell. It's what we all have to do."

Chamber president Harold Robinson said: "It is encouraging to hear Dalton's comments about the importance of Bradford and its businesses to the success and future plans of Morrisons."