BOLTON Institute is one of the participants in a pioneering North-west training project.

The £400,000 scheme is aimed at graduates - probably at an early stage in their careers - working in small and medium-sized companies.

It provides an individually tailored programme of professional development training.

The Institute, Manchester University, Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University are co-operating with the Department for Education and Employment.

The project's unwieldy title is Supportive Regional Infrastructure for Lifelong Learning.

It has been designed to enable employers and employees to shape learning packages to meet the needs of the company and the individual.

Participants will be guided and assisted by a team of specialist mentors and facilitators drawn from local universities, TECs and Business Links.

Those who complete the programme will receive the nationally-recognised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Award.

Organisers are seeking to recruit about 70 students for the first phase of the programme - there are no fees for participants or their employers.

The North-west project will be carefully monitored by a special team which will explore the costs and benefits for employees, employers and training providers.

A report will be presented to the DfEE with a view to establishing a national programme.

Project Manager Katie Jenkins said: "Two elements central to the success of the UK economy are efficient small and medium-sized enterprises and life-long learning.

"This project will tackle both these issues by focusing on training programmes which are relevant to the needs of individuals and their employers."

SuRILL is administered by CONTACT, the Greater Manchester Consortium for Continuing Education and Training.

Further information is available from Katie Jenkins on 0161-226-6586.

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