BUSINESSES in Bolton are being urged to take advantage of a popular multicultural event as a celebration of the town's diversity.

The town's second Apna Bazaar will be staged at Bolton Town Hall, in association with the Bolton Evening News.

All sections of the community are welcome at the event, with a gala dinner to celebrate the people who have championed diversity in the North-west.

The bazaar, on July 21 and 22, will be a spectacular festival of fashion, food, music and culture, and features stalls offering henna painting, jewellery, fashion and advice.

Organisers are calling for Bolton businesses to show support by joining the celebrations or taking up exhibition or sponsorship opportunities. The event has already attracted public sector backing from organisations including the Department of Culture.

Bipin Patel, programme director of the bazaar, said: "It will be a fantastic opportunity for local companies to show Bolton's multicultural community that they champion workplace diversity and are keen to recruit from the town's rich pool of ethnic talent.

"Last year was a tremendous success for various reasons. It's an event that we should all be proud of. It is wonderful that we are able to do this in the international Year of Harmony, in the culture quarter of town.

"It really is a case of right place, right time, and with the support of the right people."

Advice from the National Employment Panel (NEP) states that firms must harness multi-ethnic workplace talent if they are to meet the skills needs of the future.

For more information or to exhibit at the bazaar, call Bipin Patel on 07973 168857 or send an email to apna@apnaonline.net