AN innovative new partnership to encourage learning in management and business is to be launched later this month.

The Bolton and Bury Business Learning Network will officially be unveiled on Monday, March 15 with a special event at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

Bury College is among the partners involved in the important initiative which also embraces the Institute of Management, Bolton College, Community Healthcare Bolton and Bolton and Bury Chamber.

The Network is being hailed as a "partnership for inspiring learning in management and business."

It is aimed at individuals who are, or who aspire to be, managers and also to support employing organisations in encouraging learning and continuous improvement for themselves, their staff and organisation. The learning agenda will embrace the interests of individuals and employers in understanding themselves, personal development planning, career development, interpersonal skills as well as acquiring skills and competencies in management, business and entrepreneurship.

The launch will take place at 6.30pm and there is certain to be a strong contingent of visitors from the Bury area.

A welcome and introduction will be given by Roger McCartney, regional manager for the Institute of Management which is leading the project.

He will outline the concept of the Bolton and Bury Business Learning Network.

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Paul Iles, professor of human resource development, Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University.

He will focus on the value of individuals and employing organisations and will also draw on a number of case studies from a book, "Changing Patterns of Management Development," of which he is co-author.

The presentation will be inter-active with opportunities for questions and discussions.

Forms have gone out to businesses all over the Bury area asking if they would be willing to help the Network develop its activities.