SISTERS are doing it for themselves on the local business scene.

A team of four women business advisers has been appointed by Bolton Business Ventures to help women entrepreneurs establish and develop their enterprises.

It is part of the Women in Business project for Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Wigan and Oldham which is funded by the Government's Small Business Service Phoenix Fund, Business Link North Manchester and Barclays.

The advisers -- described as "experienced, well-trained and friendly" -- are on hand to help with the different development needs of small and expanding businesses from pre-start to steady growth.

One of them, June Poree, says: "There is such a lot of creativity and enthusiam out there -- people start with a new concept and see the great opportunities."

June, who lives in Breightmet, Bolton, has more than 10 years' experience working with small and medium-sized businesses.

She is self-employed, sharing her time at the moment with the BBV scheme and involvement with a North West Development Agency project, designed to help regional firms hit by Ingersoll Rand's decision to shift production oversees.

June has a special interest in personal training and development linked to business development, having recently completed a Masters Degree in this subject at the Revans Institute for Action Learning and Research at Salford University.

She has seen more than 30 companies so far, including Harwood-based Synergy Consulting & Training Ltd.

Managing Director Sue Tonks and Operations Director Adele Hughes became involved with Women in Business in January when they went along to the launch event at BBV's headquarters -- after reading about it in the Bolton Evening News.

Sue is a former training manager for Airtours and has worked as a trainer for the Dale Carnegie organisation.

She established Synergy Consulting Ltd about 3 years ago to deliver management development programmes to businesses.

Her friend Adele -- they have known each other for 16 years -- worked in administration for Stockport and Bolton councils before becoming the manager of Aldi supermarkets in Farnworth and Bury.

She left about five years ago after an industrial injury and about 18 months ago began helping Sue with some of the admin for Synergy.

Eventually, they decided to take the business in a new direction and, after putting up their homes against a bank loan, they formed Synergy Consulting & Training Ltd.

It offers a management development programme -- The Essence of Management -- which is run one day a week for six weeks at the Shaw Hill Golf and Country Club in Chorley.

It is aimed at small to medium-sized businesses and involves eight to 15 representatives from different companies.

There are outdoor activities, psychometric tests, presentations and an emphasis on creative ideas and identifying cost savings.

Sue and Adele are grateful for the help they have received from June and the BBV scheme.

June advised them on marketing and cash flow and helped with the submission they made to secure their bank loan. "It was extremely useful," Adele said. "She brought us right back to earth and made us think about things we would not have done," Sue added.

Synergy has already taken on a new trainer in addition to Sue and plans to recruit another three in the next year or so.

"Long-term we would be looking at licensing or franchising," Sue said.