100 Club: Ian Ward, The Broadway, Bradford

Ian Ward is the General Manager at The Broadway, Bradford and Chair of the Bradford BID Development Group. Here, he discusses what he loves about the city, and why he’s involved in the foundation.

What do you like most about Bradford?

Bradford has an amazingly vibrant and diverse population, not to mention the highest percentage of under-25s in the UK, which makes it a fantastic place to live and work.

What do you think are the key challenges the district faces?

Like any UK city, Bradford is under pressure due to budget cuts to councils and public services. As a city, we need to rise to the challenge of filling that gap. Now more than ever, Bradford needs its business leaders to work together towards a better future for the city through improving infrastructure and remodelling the urban centre.

What issues are important to you and your organisation?

At The Broadway, we’re committed to delivering a ‘wow’ experience to shoppers in order to keep bringing them back time and time again. Last year, we saw an extra 1.5 million visitors through our doors and we’re looking to build on that this year. Our aim is to turn Bradford into a real leisure and retail destination for tourists and locals alike, and it’s only through combining our efforts and strategies with other organisations across the city that we can achieve this.

Why did you decide to join the Bradford 100 Club? 

The Bradford 100 shares the same vision as The Broadway and Bradford BID in that our aim is to help Bradford become a city full of energy and opportunity for its residents.  At The Broadway, our motto is ‘The answer is YES’ and I firmly believe that a positive attitude can make all the difference.

What community issues are important to you and/or your organisation? 

There’s a real buzz about the city at the moment. With St. George’s Hall expected to re-open in early 2019 and an NEC music venue expected to open in 2020, there’s no question that Bradford’s on the up and we want that excitement to continue. As well working alongside local charities, such as Bradford Hospitals Children’s Charity which The Broadway has partnered with since last year, we’re always on the lookout for other ways we can help Bradford realise its full potential and become an even better place to live.