Bradford is to be home to a new centre set up to support and advise ethnic minority businesses.

The Centre for Ethnic Entrepreneurship and Management will be run from Bradford University and will be led by a team of experts in ethnic minority business practice.

The team will be led by Dr Khalid Hafeez, who hopes a definitive study of the characteristics of West Yorkshire's minority ethnic business community will make a serious contribution to future regional policy-making, and help the next generation of entrepreneurs achieve long term sustainability.

Dr Hafeez said: "Succession planning is an issue, as the second generation needs to be trained in modern management practices to move the business forward. As a team, what we are seeking to do is to offer our expertise to the small business level."

The team will run workshops to teach essential skills such as computing and special support will be on hand to develop flexible and forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

The academics will undertake research, focusing on how new generations of micro-businesses are shaping the Yorkshire economy. The multi-lingual team will be able to engage with first and second generation business owners and managers from ethnic minority backgrounds Professor Arthur Francis, Dean of the Bradford University School of Management, said: "As one of Europe's leading business schools, but one which takes its local responsibilities seriously, we are committed to engaging with and supporting the local business community.

"Some 82 per cent of companies in Bradford employ less than ten people, and we hope the centre can make a useful contribution to the economic regeneration of the district and the region through focusing on their particular needs."

The centre has the backing of Bradford Chamber and has been praised by businesswoman Gweneth Balson, one of Bradford's successful entrepreneurs.

Mrs Balson, managing director of business services provider Digitalife, said the centre would provide vital inspiration, motivation and confidence building for new and existing businesses in Bradford.

For information, visit: www.bradford. ac.uk/ceem or call (01274) 236699.