A conference which set new agendas for firms in the district has been praised by some of the business people who attended it.

More than 200 bosses were given tips on how to boost their business at the one-day Evolve or Die Conference at the Jarvis Bankfield Hotel in Bingley.

The event was organised by a team from Bradford TEC and led by the TEC's strategic marketing director Simon Bray.

Saheeda Ahmed, of Bradford firm Istikara Research, said: "The day was a real eye opener. It brought the areas that people often feel uncomfortable about discussing into the open."

Billy Dulay, a partner in Bradford company Dulay Seymour Creative Communications, said: "The future of the district is going to play an important role in the future of our business."

At the event were the TEC's chief executive David Wilkinson, Andrew Gell, the TEC's research manager, Tony Sewell of Leeds University, Stuart Robertson from solicitors Gordons Wright & Wright, theatre group The Cragrats and comedian Charlie Hale.

Andrew Gell said: "We are working on plans for the economy of Bradford ten years from now which show that the ethnic population will make up 30 per cent of the population of the district compared to the current 23 per cent.

"This will provide new opportunities for firms wanting to target different markets which includes a larger number of older people who have money to spend."

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