ASDA at Horwich has received the Positive about Disabled People award for the way in which it recruits and encourages disabled staff.

Amanda Lowe, who has achieved a Level two NVQ in Retail Operations, is one of a number of people recruited under the Remploy and New Deal schemes. She is a respected member of the George clothing team.

"It has been wonderful to watch Amanda's development and independence grow while she has been a colleague here," said Store Personnel Manager Denise Branigan.

EAST Lancashire Railway in Bury has been selected to represent the North-west in the Sustainable Tourism category of the English Tourism Council's England for Excellence Awards. The winner will be announced tomorrow.

MARK Andrews, one of the directors of Apogee Financial Management Ltd in Worsley Road North, Worsley, has received the Institute of Financial Planning's award for the highest pass mark in the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification. Mark, aged 31, who lives in Urmston, works with fellow director Simon Ainscough, aged 31, who lives in Bolton.

PLUMBING merchants Plumb Centre have opened a new branch in Butt Street, Leigh. KEOGHS solicitors of Bolton have produced free leaflets on making a will and the new "family friendly" policies relating to the workplace.

Copies are available from Rachel Senior on 01204 552065 (wills) and Lynda Parry on 01204 552089 (workplace policies). CHORLEY-BASED Lathams, the North-west's largest independent accountancy practice, is 25th in Accountancy Age's Top 50 league table of accountancy firms after achieving 15.7 per cent growth.

The firm has appointed five new partners -- John Gardner, Carl Houghton, Jacqui Chatwood, John Pinder and Peter Smallwood -- and plans further partner level recruits. HOYLES Chem-Dry of Lowton, a dry cleaning company, beat more than 530 other franchisees to win the Chem-Dry UK Service Franchise of the year award.

The business has been run by Brian and Debbie Platt for the last 10 years. BOLTON and Bury Chamber is inviting local organisations to find out more about the Stakeholder pensions which come into force next year.

Employers will learn more about their statutory requirements to offer employees access to a Stakeholder pension scheme if they attend a lunch scheduled for November 21 at Mere Hall, Bolton.

It will be subsidised by Levy Gee, The Ravens Wood Consultancy and Farnworth Thomasson & Co Ltd.

Further details are available from Joan Bath at the Chamber on 01204 374683. THE web site established by Bolton and Bury Chamber's Business Link -- www.chamberhelp.co.uk -- contains e-mail links to Bolton and Bury MPs and other local information including crime rates, school league tables and economic data.

MEMBERS of Bolton and Bury Chamber are being offered an Esporta Health and Fitness Club Gold Card which entitles holders to take advantage of a health package worth £120 for the discount price of £46.

Gold card holders will have an opportunity to win a full year's membership worth more than £600.