Keighley Business Forum

Keighley Business Forum (KBF) began life in 1989 as a Lunch club for Keighley business leaders. It was set up by Iain Copping, Keighley Area co-ordinator for Bradford Council.

One of its first functions was to lobby for the completion of the Aire Valley Trunk road and the electrification of the Airedale line.

It also commissioned an "Economic Strategy" plan for Keighley, with money from the Council and Bradford TEC.

This led to the incorporation, in July 1992, of Keighley Business Forum Ltd, a private not-for-profit company limited by Guarantee. Copping was appointed a director and company secretary. Other directors were Geoff Smith and Douglas Hardaker - head of Keighley College.

The following year the Keighley Business Centre was established at Cedar House "as an executive arm of the Forum to implement the Forum's policies". Copping resigned his job with the Council and was appointed as full time Director of KBF with a starting salary of around £25,000, later rising to £45,000. The centre was officially opened by Local Government Minister David Curry in May 1994.

The chairman's report for March 1993 states: "The funding of the centre looks assured with about £30,000 of annual contributions pledged by members and over £70,000 of contributions pledged by Bradford and District TEC and other public bodies...". Member companies paid £100 or more per year, depending on their size.

KBF soon took over the local Chamber of Trade and quickly became the major organisation representing business interests in Keighley. By 1999 there were plans to merge with both Bradford TEC and the Chamber of Commerce to form a single powerful business lobby in the district, but this was put on hold when the government announced that the TECs were to be scrapped.

KBF had also been lobbying, since its formation, for a multi-million pound government Regeneration grant for Keighley. After initial failure, it eventually succeeded when, in December 1995, the government awarded £18 million from its Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) to Keighley.

KBF became a "core" member of the local SRB board, with KBF chairman Tim Parr also acting as SRB deputy chair.

The SRB board became a major funding source for Keighley Business Forum, allocating over £1 million from it's £18 million budget to KBF over its 7 year term. These grants included £155,000 for enhancing Cedar House, £120,000 for renting out offices to small businesses, and £165,000 for marketing Keighley.

Another major source was Bradford TEC. Marketing Director Simon Bray told KDIS: "We have had a long relationship with KBF and, since 1992, have entered into a number of specific contracts with the organisation. On an annual basis, those contracts have been worth approximately £33k over the life of our association". This would put total TEC funding from 1992 to 1999 at £264,000.

Member company subscriptions also played a part. By 1997 KBF was claiming over 400 members bringing an annual income of around £60,000.

Under Copping's lead, KBF grew quickly, drawing in ever more public money. In its last year under his control, staff numbered 18 and turnover topped £800,000.

But without doubt, the biggest draw for funds was KBF's environmental program, based around it's Waste Minimisation Project.

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KBF members 1998/99

Liquidators statement of affairs for KBF

Keighley SRB

KBF Waste Minimisation Project

NCEEM - The National Centre of Excellence for Environmental Management

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