A NEW business school at the University of Bolton will open later this month with an event for influential business leaders.

Former BBC news presenter Gordon Burns will host the launch, on Wednesday, March 20, alongside Betfred chairman Fred Done.

The Bolton Business School is the latest development at the university and follows the launch of a £100,000 law court for students, as well as the appointment of academic and practising barrister Stephen Hardy as a professor in charge of the law course.

A centre for Islamic finance has also been formed, with former chancellor of the exchequer Norman Lamont on its board.

The Bolton Business School will, bosses say, offer “bespoke” training and services for companies and will give students specialist skills and knowledge.

Lisa Cove-Burrell, an international management expert, has been appointed head of the new business school.

Ms Cove-Burrell, who started her career in marketing for BICC Cables, regularly travels to Vietnam to lecture at the university’s institution, Banking University HCMC.

During her career with the University of Bolton, she has managed a range of programmes, from pre-degree to post-graduate, in business, tourism and sport.

She was principal lecturer in quality, teaching and learning for eight years, has been head of the pre-university and transition centre and has run staff development sessions for university partners in the UK, United Arab Emirates and China.

Ms Cove-Burrell said: “Our business school is founded on the principle that we work with the people who know best what business needs from us — the professionals themselves.

“Our goal is to be flexible enough that we can work with our industries and professions to develop the training or consultancy services that deliver solutions for business success.”

Vice-chancellor Dr George Holmes said: “Bolton Business School is strategically significant to the future development of the university and after our recent extensive investment in new staff we look forward to seeing it flourish.”

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