An urgent plea for retired business people to provide voluntary support to a rising number of local people wanting to set up new firms has been made by the city's main business body.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce says the popularity of the New Enterprise Allowance programme has seen more than 100 business plans signed off so far with about 450 potential entrepreneurs being referred by advisers at Jobcentreplus offices in Bradford, Shipley and Keighley .

The Chamber needs more people to volunteer to help fledgling businesses and assess business plans.

Those accepted on to the NEA scheme initially have the support of mentors for up to eight weeks to develop a viable business plan. Once approved, they receive a cash allowance for 26 weeks and access to a £1,000 loan with easy repayment terms to help with start-up costs. The total package of support is worth up to £2,274 for each start-up.

Zabair Khaliq has used NEA to launch ZS Productions. Zebair completed a business plan for his videography business with the help of mentor Colin Whitehead, of Bradford accountants Naylor Wintersgill. He has now hired a photographer to meet rising demand.

Mr Whitehead said: “A good, solid business plan and a motivated entrepreneur are the key ingredients to setting up a successful business and I’m pleased to say that Zabair ticks both boxes.

“As an accountant and mentor, it’s been extremely rewarding to work with Zabair on his business venture. ”

The next free mentor training is on Tuesday, August 21, and potential volunteers can also attend the Chamber’s members’ lunch on Wednesday, September 5 at its offices.

For more details, call (01274) 230050.