MORE than 60 experienced advisers are providing companies with a unique back-up service.

Business Link North Manchester, which has its official launch on October 4, offers business support to companies with fewer than 250 employees across Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.

The new organisation, which is backed by the Small Business Service, is part of the government shake-up which has already led to the demise of the large Bolton and Bury Chamber organisation formed through a merger with the former training and Enterprise Council.

The Chamber continues as a smaller membership, lobbying and networking body, but many of its former functions are now shared between Business Link North Manchester and the Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council.

Business Link North Manchester has its central administration unit at Link House, Bury and convenient local operation centres in each town.

The one in Bolton is at Commerce House in Bridgeman Place.

But the organisation -- which can be contacted on 0845 608 3388 -- is stressing that any business within the North Manchester area can draw upon the specific skills of any business adviser -- regardless of location.

It says that as well as years of general business experience, many advisers within the team have developed particular skills in areas such as business finance, sales and marketing, innovation and technology, supply chain management and exporting.

Chief Executive Peter Morton says most businesses are run by ordinary people who just decide to go ahead and do it.

"They start, do well, begin to grow, then realise that they are not sure what comes next or how to cope with the growth of the business or how to get the right people.

"That's where we come in."

He went on: "Business Support means being able to answer the questions these businesses are asking and to provide them with a thorough understanding of how to make progress.

"If we can be involved from the start, great, but if not, it is never too late."

He added: "Whether it is by guiding them through raising finance for expansion, helping to create better supply chains, helping to devise marketing plans, supporting them through workforce issues, introducing business standards and models, devising training and development plans or simply helping to introduce better cash flow management, our advisers are the best, most impartial starting point for any business in our area.

"It is one telephone call -- one number for the whole area."

A website currently under development will offer on-line access to advice, guidance and contacts 24 hours a day for the most common information requests.

There are also plans for an on-call business emergency service.

In many cases, Business Link will provide an adviser who will work as an independent link between a client company and a third party organisation.

Mr Morton ended: "There will be many opportunities for putting local companies in touch with each other.

"If one company needs to train its workforce and another specialises in that kind of training, it makes sense to bring the two together.

"Business Link's involvement offers our client base a sense of security and a high degree of quality control."