In less than four years, Bradford Council’s Kickstart enterprise support team has helped 3,500 local people to launch more than 1,100 small businesses across the district.

Nearly half of them have been set up in communities where people need the greatest support in overcoming barriers to getting a job or starting their own business.

When it was launched in April 2006, the Kickstart programme, acknowledged as one of the best of its kind in the country, pledged to support the launch of 1,000 new business ventures over five years.

In addition, Kickstart has safeguarded 1,200 existing jobs by providing intensive support to more than 3,000 established businesses. Help includes free professional services, skills training and business growth guidance.

Around four out of ten new businesses are run by women, to whom Kickstart provides confidence-boosting advice and intensive support.

The successful programme is one of 20 funded through the Government-backed, £300m Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. In Yorkshire there are similar schemes in Doncaster, Leeds and Sheffield.

Kickstart funding, channelled through its Access2Finance scheme, has provided more than £1.2m of loans and financial management advice to around 100 local businesses. Another 100 enterprises have had help to access financial support from the banks.

Specialist services have been offered to help people with disabilities or sensory loss overcome personal, cultural or financial barriers to starting a business or returning to work.

Kickstart’s Professional Services scheme benefits growing businesses with a range of specialist services, provided by locally-based suppliers. Clients benefit from the free services while the suppliers are paid by the programme.

Substantial investment in communities has improved retail facilities in the district, boosting regeneration and business growth. The glazed canopy providing a modern new entrance to Keighley’s Market Hall was among schemes funded by Kickstart.

Councillor Adrian Naylor, executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “During the recession we have used Kickstart and other initiatives to deliver a bold campaign to help new and established local businesses to survive and get ready for the economic upturn.

“Through the Kickstart programme, we are helping local businesses to sustain existing jobs as well as create new jobs. We are also encouraging local companies to bid for Council contracts and aim to pay local suppliers’ invoices within ten working days.”