Thousands of jobs have been created and people trained in the ten years Bradford TEC has been running.

Thousands of firms have also been assisted thanks to Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council which shuts next March.

The TEC, which held its last annual public meeting last week, will make way for a Learning & Skills Council for West Yorkshire which will be based in Bradford.

The TEC has invested £180 million in the local economy since it started in January, 1991, under the chairmanship of businesswoman Judith Donovan.

In the same time, it has helped more than 13,500 people into jobs, provided training for around 45,000 people, helped 17,000 people achieve NVQs, assisted nearly 3,000 businesses and helped more than 1,000 people a year access training in the community.

The TEC has also brought in around £1 million a year of European cash on its own and even more by working with its partners in the district.

More than 2,500 people are registered with a jobs programme for the over 40s and the TEC has also been responsible for getting over 400 companies actively involved in the Investors in People standard.

Simon Bray, strategic marketing director, at the TEC said: "We deliberately took the theme 'Developing the Future... Together' for our annual report and public meeting, because that is what all our work has been about. It is not about the TEC closing - though we are sorry to be going - it is about being able to build on the difference we have made."

"The TEC performance last year was excellent. We intend to give the local Learning & Skills Council the best possible foundation to continue our work, and I hope our many partners will continue to work closely for the benefit of everyone."