MOVES are under way to turn Ripon into a city of enterprise through the use of music.

Ripon City Partnership, a group working to regenerate the area, announced yesterday that a London-based consultancy has been awarded a contract for a study into plans for a music technology centre.

The partnership will work with representatives of consultants JPA, which has experience of projects related to the arts, culture, information technology and the youth sector, and has previously worked in Yorkshire.

A steering group set up by the partnership to manage the project, the idea for which emerged from a local culture review, will include music industry experts.

John Pepin, of JPA, said the consultants was enthusiastic about working on a project that combined social enterprise with innovation.

He said: "It is a fantastic opportunity for the community to be innovative with music.''

Councillor Mick Stanley, chairman of the steering group, said: "We want a scheme that will deliver benefits to the people of Ripon and North Yorkshire, offering an entrepreneurial element to the making of all types of music in all its guises, including sound recording, lighting, stage craft and business management."

Coun Stanley said the centre would offer business support, professional development, networking opportunities, mentoring and space for offices, storage, recording, rehearsals and performances.

He said: "The project is part of a vision to make Ripon the cultural capital of North Yorkshire and a city of enterprise.

"We managed to get funding for a feasibility study, including some money left over from the single regeneration budget.

"Culturally, Ripon is very rich for music, but now we are looking at an innovative centre with various music genres across the whole range."

The study will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will establish whether or not there is a need for the centre.

Phase two will go into more detail about the proposal and investigate funding opportunities.

Coun Stanley said: "At this stage, it is likely to be a mix of public and private funding.

"I cannot pre-empt the consultants' report by speculating on the type of building we would have.

"If it comes to fruition, the project could be in place by 2010, but that is a pure guess.'="