A BOLTON School is again sponsoring The Bolton and Bury Business Awards.

The school is sponsoring the young person/apprentice of the year category to highlight talented young workers.

Sue Hincks, headmistress of the school’s Girls’ Division, said: “Once again we are proud to sponsor this award. It is important that successful young people in the workplace are recognised.

“As we know from many former students, young people can offer incredible dedication and innovation in business.

“They also serve as excellent role models to their peers and others. This award reflects our own mission of sending out people into the world who have talent and self-belief, and who will make a difference for good.

“We strive to encourage initiative, leadership and teamwork. We look forward to celebrating a young person who has demonstrated such attributes and who has made a real impact at work.

“Their importance to the area’s future prosperity should not be overlooked.”

School clerk and treasurer Cathy Fox said: “Bolton School is, first and foremost, an educational institution with a history dating back almost 500 years.

“We believe in the best of both worlds, where pupils are taught in single-sex classes while regularly collaborating in co-educational activities. While we are a selective school with a tradition of academic excellence — we are regularly ranked as one of the country’s top schools — and outstanding extra-curricular opportunities, we are also forward-looking and will complete an £18 million building programme this summer.

“This has seen the construction of new infant and junior girls’ schools, an extended junior boys’ school and a new sixth form centre. We have also recently opened a pre-school nursery class. With more than 2,300 pupils, we are one of the country’s biggest schools.

“We are also one of Bolton’s largest employers with almost 500 staff. “ The school also runs commercial activities through Bolton School Services Ltd (BSSL). Facilities such as its arts and conference centre can be hired for weddings and events, as can football, tennis, sports hall and swimming pool facilities.

BSSL also offers activity weeks and swimming clubs while BSS Coaches has a dozen vehicles, including executive coaches, used by other schools, groups and sports teams.

Patterdale Hall, the school’s outdoor pursuits centre at Ullswater, hosts residential and outdoor education programmes for commercial clients and the school’s ketch, Tenacity of Bolton, can also be hired for sailing around the UK.

Kidzone, its childcare service, offers holiday clubs for four to 13-year-olds as well as pre-and after-school care for pupils.

Other commercial activities include an online merchandise store run with Bolton firm The Silk Group.

Profit from these various businesses are invested into the school’s bursary fund, which offers financial assistance to one-in-five senior school pupils.