ABDN and Leeds City Council share the objective of developing and promoting Minority Ethnic owned/managed businesses. Although the Service Level Agreement ended in 2007 due to structural changes at the Council, ABDN continues to work with the Council and other organisations to develop and work on the same objectives.

• To raise awareness & take up of business support services amongst the ME business community and other ME  communities based in the Leeds Metropolitan District.
• To advise public sector bodies on how they can consult more effectively with ME communities & improve access to their services.
• To represent the interests of Leeds based ME businesses on partnership bodies at the local, regional & national levels.
• To encourage innovation and inter-firm collaboration to spread best practice, encourage diversification & increase the take up of new technologies.
• To raise the profile of Leeds based ME businesses at the local, regional & national level
  
  The post has enabled all three organisations to work closely together and enhance the progress of ABDN. This year the web site has been launched, bi-monthly seminars have been organised, the Connect newsletter has been published and the Minority Ethnic Women into Business (MEWBS was also launched. A Business Plan and Annual Report have also been compiled.
  
  This year brings many more new challenges. The support of mainstream organisations will continue to enable ABDN to reach its aims and objectives.