|
Action for Business, Bradford |
 During the notorious Bradford inner city riots of 2001, the business centre at Manningham, the centre of the city’s south Asian population, was a notably safe haven for the area’s multi-ethnic community.
For Jenny Pupius, chief executive of Action for Business (Bradford) Ltd (ABL), which owns the centre, it was a sign that enterprise can create cohesion across cultural divides.
‘There have been a lot of disturbances in this area,’ she explains, ‘but the Carlisle Business Centre has never seen any trouble. One of our aims has been to unite the different communities and support business in a multicultural context.’
Today, much has changed in Bradford, and ABL has been central to Manningham’s regeneration.
Founded in 1992, ABL worked with Bradford Metropolitan District Council to redevelop and extend the former Carlisle Mills to bring a derelict building back into economic life and create approximately 40,000 square feet of work space. ABL initially ran the business centre on behalf of the council. In 2003, it had an opportunity to buy the centre – and asked the ACF for assistance.
The ACF provided a £300,000 loan to help the social enterprise meet the £860,000 purchase price. But this was no ordinary loan; the more social return ABL generated for the community, the more the organisation’s repayments would be reduced.
ABL has risen to this challenge in a variety of ways. The centre is home to 56 local businesses and community organisations, which employ more than 300 staff members. Its on-site café, catering and conference facilities are also an important social hub for the area.
In 2005/6, ABL’s turnover exceeded £600,000, of which around 3.5% was pumped straight back into the area in the form of community enterprise grants. By April 2007, the ACF reported that the centre was on track to repay £264,000 in social returns by 2008.
ABL is also looking to expand its facilities and funding streams. Future ideas include converting unused basement space at the Carlisle Business centre to house a local community nursery and gym.
‘We’re well on the way to achieving our goals,’ says Jenny. ‘We are developing an asset for the community.’
|
