YORKSHIRE Building Society has pledged its backing to the district's City of Culture.

The society will work with the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture initiative over three years to support its aim of increasing employment opportunities and skills district-wide.

Bosses at the Bradford-based mutual say the move forms part of an ongoing investment in the area.

Since 2022, more than 2,200 people have been supported through society programmes designed to help improve employability and skills in communities across the district.

And most recently, the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation has unveiled the Building Bradford Skills Fund – which will provide £1 million in grants to charities to improve employability in some of the district's most deprived areas.

Susan Allen, chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society, says: "As a mutual we are committed to the communities we support, and – as one of the oldest organisations in Bradford, with roots going back around 160 years – we are proud to support Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

"We are committed to investing in Bradford – our heartland – to improve skills, employability and ultimately financial wellbeing for all our communities, and the City of Culture will bring opportunity, pride and optimism to the area.

"The City of Culture will not only celebrate what a uniquely vibrant, young and diverse district Bradford is, but also bring inward investment which will boost the local economy, generate opportunities for people within our community to learn new skills and create a more prosperous future."

Dan Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025, says: "I'm thrilled to announce our partnership with Yorkshire Building Society, an organisation that is based here but works nationally, and shares our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people across the UK.

"As we approach Bradford 2025, this partnership will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the next generation not only experiences the transformative power of culture but also sees it as a pathway to their future. Together we’re not just planning a year of events, we’re opening doors for young people across our city and the UK, inspiring them to dream big and realise that their future can be built right here.

"Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture will be a celebration of the district, its cultures and people."