KEIGHLEY business bosses are backing a district-wide initiative to bolster confidence and support as planning takes place for post-coronavirus recovery.

A partnership, led by Bradford Council, of business-community representatives will meet weekly to share experiences and advice.

Discover Keighley, the brand for the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), is among those involved.

Its manager, Paul Howard, said: “Businesses have been working hard to ensure their own survival throughout this troubling time. But now, as thoughts turn to what happens next, we’re delighted to be fuelling a collective voice to ensure that key messages around coming out of lockdown are communicated, questions are answered and businesses can support each other.”

The new drive urges businesses to share experiences, success stories and advice under the #TogetherBradfordCan banner.

Information gathered through the partnership, whose members also include Bradford Chamber of Commerce and the Bradford and Ilkley BID organisations, will be used to support the district’s economic recovery and enable the council to reflect business needs alongside bodies such as West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “We all know exiting lockdown will be complex and we urge everyone to keep abreast of official messages.

“It is also essential we make it as easy as possible for businesses to learn from each other, share experiences and keep the rebuild messages clear.

“Our new partnership aims to keep all lines of business communication open, whether retail, manufacturing or professional services.

“Never before has #TogetherBradfordCan been more reflective of not only a business movement, but a cultural statement that underpins the strength of our communities as we enter this next critical stage.”

Helen Rhodes, a BID manager in the district, said the partnership would create a “stronger, clearer” voice.

She added: “We have all experienced the most unexpected, damaging crisis of many of our business lives and while the focus has been about survival, thoughts now turn to revival as we look to the future of business, retail and community life.”