An innovative tyre retailer and fitting firm which is creating work for jobless people is the latest business to turn to Bradford Council's Rising Stars enterprise support programme as it targets a £1 million turnover this year.

Damian Kenefick launched Shipley-based Click on Tyres in 2010 after spotting a gap in the market for internet sales. He has seen his business grow year on year, with turnover reaching £700,000 in 2012, despite a website failure knocking him back.

As it has grown, Click on Tyres, which also provides a fitting service, has recruited three previously long-term unemployed people and Mr Kenefick is talking with a Jobcentre about hiring three staff in accounts and web administration roles.

The company is one of three current local winners in the Telegraph & Argus’s Local Business Accelerators programme, benefiting from free newspaper advertising and the support of a business mentor.

Mr Kenefick has also turned to the Rising Stars business growth programme delivered by Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce, for help with structuring after the business grew quickly.

Regular meetings with business growth adviser Carolyn Townsley has boosted his confidence about future progress. Click on Tyres was has also been selected for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business programme, which helps entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunities, thanks to help with the application and interview process from Carolyn.

Mr Kenefick said: “I started up the business from scratch with my own money and with very little help initially. During last year I saw an article in the Bradford Chamber magazine about someone getting help from Rising Stars. The reason I approached them is because the business grew so quickly and I needed some support structuring it. I now have regular meetings and they have really helped focus me and helped with the planning and direction of my business. I feel I’m mainly entrepreneurial and I’ve got lots of ideas, but needed them to be more formulated and clear, which Rising Stars has helped with. They’ve also given me great guidance about staff and my obligations to them.”

Mr Kenefick is looking to expand by launching a mobile tyre fitting service.

Carolyn Coleman, from Rising Stars, said: “Rising Stars is providing Click on Tyres with assistance in producing good systems, procedures and plans to take the business forward to make it even more successful.”

For information about Rising Stars and the Council’s Business and Enterprise Programme visit rising-stars.biz.