FORTY North-west companies are being offered the chance to put themselves under close scrutiny in a pilot project funded by the European Social Fund.

A strategic business development training project to be launched soon will quiz bosses about the social impact of their company's activities.

And the no-holds barred exercise will give the workforce an opportunity to express an opinion about management leadership qualities.

Plan-It Training, based in Winsford, Cheshire, is delivering the new initiative after beating off competition from universities and Training and Enterprise councils.

It will enable businesses to measure their performance against European models and then put in place systems aimed at improving everything from productivity to profitability.

One of the directors, Lorraine Hatton-Downward, said: "This is not a training course for the faint-hearted."

She went on: "We are looking for business proprietors and managing directors who are committed to improving the overall performance of their business.

"The limited number of places we offer will be taken up by people who are committed to making their businesses more successful."

The programme is available to businesses which are seriously committed to achieving Investors in People, increased productivity and business success.

Lorraine Hatton-Downward added: "The programme will benefit organisations by developing a key member of staff to work with our advisor in the workplace to review employees' current skills, identify future training and development needs and design a company, or departmental training and development plan, linked to the organisation's business objectives.

Interested small to medium-sized businesses can apply for a place by contacting Angela, Lorraine or Margaret on 01606 862989.

The only cost involved is a commitment to staff time in the form of five half-day training sessions on a one-to-one basis in the workplace.