The front door of The Store, Keighley opened for the first time on Monday 8 September 2008, helping six new Bradford Kickstart shop-keepers start their businesses. These businesses are:

• The Art Rooms: selling greetings cards and contemporary wall art;
• Domdick&harry: jewellery, clothing, accessories and vintage products;
• Pickwick Paperie: special event invitations and bridal stationery;
• Phil Swayle: a distinctive range of coffees and other beverages;
• Savacomp: a social enterprise which recycles computers;
• Soukis: bags, clothing accessories and home furnishings.

You can visit The Store daily, Tuesday to Saturday inclusive, from 10.00am to 5.00pm, to buy high quality gifts, jewellery, accessories, art, bridal stationery, even recycled computers – plus enjoy a great cup of coffee while you browse.

The Store, in Cavendish Street, is part of a bold Keighley retail project providing skills training and test trading opportunities for local people, as part of Bradford Council’s Bradford Kickstart initiative to support retail businesses. The innovative venture is the result of a strong partnership between the Council and Park Lane College Keighley. The project will require an investment by Bradford Kickstart of £345,000 over a five year period.

Councillor Kris Hopkins, Leader of Bradford Council, opened The Store using a large golden key designed by college students.

Guests were welcomed by David Fell, Deputy Principal of Park Lane College Keighley and by Rachel Rickards, Manager of The Store.

Later this month the second phase of the project, The Academy, also based in Cavendish Street, will open its doors to give people the skills they need to obtain jobs and careers in Keighley’s shops and stores. College tutors will deliver a range of retail skills training in association with the Learning and Skills Council.

In planning the major initiative the Council and the College have worked closely with Keighley Town Centre Association, whose 160 private sector members include the town’s most popular retail outlets.

As well as providing skills training, Park Lane College Keighley will also offer specialist retail business advice to the test traders as they introduce their products and services to Keighley shoppers.

Councillor Hopkins commented: “Keighley is the District’s second largest shopping destination, with thousands of customers who prefer to shop locally and support Keighley retailers. Bradford Council, working closely with Park Lane College Keighley and Keighley Town Centre Association, is determined to improve and sustain a strong retail economy in the town, as a key element of its commitment to support retail businesses across the District.

“After months of planning and substantial investment we are delighted to see this Council-led retail initiative, funded through Bradford Kickstart, begin with the opening of The Store. This will offer affordable, high quality test trading opportunities to new retail outlets."

For further information please call Kathy Sharpe, Park Lane College Keighley, tel: (0113) 216 2561.

Image from left to right: Dominic Al-Samarraie (“Dom Dick and Harry” Stall holder), Phil Swale (“Coffee & Go” Stall holder), David Fell- Deputy Principal Park Lane College, Keighley, Dave Spencer (“Sava Comp” Stall holder), Kris Hopkins, Leader of Bradford Council, Allen Davies (“Sava Comp” Stall holder), and Jacky Al-Samarraie (“The Art Rooms” Stall holder) outside The Store, Keighley