A decision is expected soon on which of the bidders will run West Yorkshire's Small Business Service (SBS) franchise.

Bosses from Bradford are backing a West Yorkshire partnership bid to run the service against competition from other groups.

The West Yorkshire partnership includes the county's four Business Links and Bradford Chamber of Commerce. Other bids have come from Cheshire-based Nord Anglia Plc, Sheffield firm Action for Employment and Ecotime Consulting of Leeds.

All the contenders are expecting a decision on Wednesday, October 11, and members of Bradford Chamber of Commerce are hoping the partnership bid will be successful.

Judith Donovan, the Chamber's president, told members that the West Yorkshire partnership had been asked to re-submit its bid as the first one was turned down.

"This is a much better bid because we have been given more time to draw it up. We understand there are other bids being discussed by the SBS panel and we expect to be told in October."

Bids to run SBS franchises are being submitted around the country following the Government's decision to scrap Business Links as part of its shake-up of post-16 education, training and business support.