WORK to bridge the gap between Bradford district firms and education will be boosted following a cash donation to support the activities of a business-led body.

The E3 Bradford project, which was launched in 2012 with the aim of preparing thousands of youngsters for the world of work, has received a £10,000 donation from Bradford-based health cash plan provider Sovereign Healthcare through its charitable trust.

It will enable E3 Bradford, which is supported by Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Bradford Council, to continue involving local businesses in enterprise and employability activities with young people.

It;s activities include events such as the annual Work Inspiration Week which enables local businesses to showcase their operations to young people from schools and colleges across the district.

It will also enable the partnership to continue raising awareness of the benefits of employers taking on apprentices and trainees.

Paul Mackie , E3 Bradford chairman and Bradford Chamber president, said: “A huge thank you to Sovereign Health Charitable Trust for this generous donation. The money will go towards strengthening the connection we have already established with local schools and colleges, and the business community.

"It means more young people will have the opportunity to interact and engage with business which we hope will create further interest in entrepreneurs, the business world and what can be achieved by themselves and for Bradford.”

Jan Fortune, Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to make this donation to E3 Bradford which we hope will contribute to supporting increased life chances and opportunities for young people in Bradford, and help to broaden their thinking when it comes to career choices for the future.”

E3 Bradford was established as part of Bradford Council's £7.7million 'Get Bradford Working' initiative to help secure the economic future of the district,

The £300,000 E3 scheme, which stands for Education, Enterprise, Employment, aims to develop, inspire and empower young people to make a positive contribution to economic success through a demand-led, business driven, vocational and enterprise curriculum.

At the time of its launch Paul Mackie, who is chairman of construction consultancy Rex Procter and Partners, said the aim was to create a "golden thread of enterprise" running through the education curriculum.

He said: "E3 Bradford will help solve the mismatch between the critical academic learning at schools, with necessary skills needed for entering work in today's world. Creating aspirational and motivated young people with the right skills and attitudes is at the core of our objective."