THE University of Bolton launched its new Bolton Business School last night at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Gordon Burns.

The school brings together business, accountancy, management and law programmes at all academic levels, including part-time studies for those in work.

It currently has just fewer than 1,000 internal students and 40 staff, of which eight are new appointments.

The ceremony was attended by the chancellor, Baroness Morris of Bolton, while Fred Done, chairman of Betfred, also spoke at the event.

The launch coincides with the university becoming a headline sponsor for this year’s Bolton and Bury Business Awards, run by The Bolton News and Bury Times.

Lisa Cove-Burrell, the business school’s new head, said: “The launch is big news. My vision is to refresh courses, bring in new programmes and make sure the school meets the needs of business. We are a vibrant community — we want students to have a great time studying and building careers.

“Employability is a key target and our business award sponsorship with The Bolton News will bring us even closer to businesses. Being a sponsor highlights the vital links between the university and business.

“We are celebrating the many good things that Bolton and Bury offer.

“Business plays a vital role in the university and many of our graduates and alumni now run successful businesses.”

Among the new staff is professor Stephen Hardy, a part-time judge and barrister who is developing new law courses. There are currently undergraduate degrees in business, management, accountancy and law and four post-graduate master’s courses.

Some courses, such as those in accountancy, carry the maximum number of exemptions, which means they meet the highest standards of professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Bosses say students will be able to achieve their final chartered status more quickly after finishing their course.

The business school has four professors, including professor Mohammed Abdel-Haq, who is an expert in Islamic finance.

The school also has an advisory group which includes a number of Bolton business people. Its chairman is William Morris, a university governor and former judge.

In 2010, Mr Burns was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton.

He said: “I’m thrilled to be here. The university has a very entrepreneurial spirit and this is yet another facility that, hopefully, will turn out the businessmen and women of tomorrow.”

Mr Done, whose daughter studied at the university, said: “Facilities like these are incubators for talent.

“I backed a young girl who went to this university and lead my IT department for three years.

“She left and started her own business and I partly funded it. Six years later, she makes just short of £1 million a year.

“I see greater opportunities today than I ever have.”