KIRKBY Central, the Bolton Vauxhall dealer, has been awarded a place on the Government's Inside North-west Enterprise Scheme.

It is part of the Department of Trade and Industry's Managing In The '90s programme and gives some of the region's most successful firms a chance to see and hear "best practice" in action.

Kirkby Central, which is based in Manchester Road, will be acting as a host next Wednesday and February 13 at 10.30am. The company employs 170 people, including 35 working in a parts department which handles 135,000 parts - mainly to the trade.

It is the second largest Vauxhall parts stockist in the UK.

Kirkby Central achieved ISO9000 quality accreditation in 1991 and is close to completing the assessment for the Investors in People award.

The Inside North-west Enterprise Scheme is managed by Salford University Business Services Ltd and further information is available from Tanya Lock on 0161-957-2420. A spokesperson said: "Visitors who would benefit most from a visit to this company include those running small to medium-sized firms in the service sector, particularly involving parts handling and the use of telesales."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.