Bernard Ginns: Naked truth about a resilient city that’s bouncing back

With copious amounts of nudity, Black Sheep ale and some of the best businesses in Britain, the advocacy group provided one of the most memorable economic briefings of recent years.

Led by Colin Philpott, the former BBC and National Media Museum executive, the group invited a party of journalists to the grand surroundings of City Hall on Thursday evening as part of its mission to increase awareness and understanding of the city.

Mr Philpott and his allies filled us with facts and figures, offered us some light refreshment from Masham and then ushered us into the gala showing of The Look of Love, Michael Winterbottom’s new biopic of adult entertainment entrepreneur Paul Raymond, which opened the 19th annual Bradford International Film Festival.

Newspaper reviewers panned Mr Raymond’s real-life theatrical efforts for their “arbitrary displays of naked flesh”. The film version did not deviate; at times, I did not know where to look.

Leaving the film aside, Breakthrough Bradford has 27 member organisations representing the city’s private and public sector. Mr Philpott introduced the evening, telling guests: “We think Bradford is a great city, a fantastic city and place we all believe in. We want to share that passion and enthusiasm with all of you.”

Tony Reeves, chief executive of Bradford Council, talked the assembled media through some of the highlights of the city, including its £8.3bn economy, its 15,000 businesses, its 200,000 jobs, its young, diverse population and its high birth rate.

Its citizens are an entrepreneurial lot; Bradford has one of the fastest rates of self-employment growth in the North.

Mr Reeves revealed details of new educational initiatives to better link schools with the needs of the city’s growth sectors, including new industrial centres of excellence for 14-19 year-olds, where businesses will have an active role in shaping the curriculum and offer extended work placements to students.

“This is about pipelines of talent,” said Mr Reeves. “These have been really positively embraced by businesses.”

The first centre of excellence focuses on financial and professional services and opens in September. Yorkshire Water, Provident Financial, Beaumont Robinson and Rex Procter and Partners are providing support.

Other centres will focus on the technology, advanced engineering and healthcare industries, which are expected to propel the city to become one of the fastest-growing economies in the North.

Mr Reeves also highlighted the transformative regeneration programmes of recent years, including the £25m City Park. Before it opened, naysayers predicted the water feature would soon be filled with stolen shopping trolleys. Instead, the park has been a great success, helping to instil a renewed confidence in the city, said Mr Reeves.

He reeled off a list of fine businesses based in the region, including Timothy Taylor, Hallmark and UK Asset Revolution. “We have a lot of decision makers in Bradford,” he said.

Mr Reeves said UKAR, which is running down the Bradford & Bingley mortgage book, has a significant opportunity to take on the management of other closed mortgage books held by high street lenders.

He also highlighted the strength of the manufacturing sector, which makes up 20 per cent of the city’s economy and has remained resilient through the downturn.

The city’s running sore has been the Westfield shopping centre. But Neil MacLure, an executive at the Australian developer, told the meeting that work will begin in the second half of this year.

“We feel very much more confident in the scheme,” he said. In a reference to Trinity Leeds, which although covered is rather exposed to the elements, Mr Maclure added: “At least you will be warm in our centre.”

Paul Mackie, chairman of quantity surveyors Rex Procter & Partners, spoke with passion about his E3 initiative to inspire young people to contribute to the economic success of the city. Next month, various businesses will open their doors to schools, thanks to the scheme.

Amjad Pervez, managing director of Seafresh Wholesale Distributors, said the Asian community is engaging more with the council. He said the city’s diversity connects it to the global village.

Following the briefing, we walked through the splendid City Park for the drinks reception and then The Look of Love. I couldn’t picture any other city showcasing itself to journalists with a racy film about adult entertainment. Renewed confidence indeed.

We ended the evening in style with curry at Aagrah Midpoint.

Twitter: @bernardginns