THE leader of Leigh's Business Working Academy aims to attract the town's T-shirt bosses -- hard-working, hands-on small businessmen.

Chairman Richard Waterfield, who is passionate about training and personal development, is delighted at the success of the organisation since it was launched at Leigh Centurions RL Club in February, but feels more companies could benefit from its help.

The academy, which until now has been run from three of the town's big business sites, Waterfields, Pataks and Leighton Packaging, has been awarded a substantial grant by the North West Development Agency which will be used to fund a base and staff, hopefully in Dam House at Astley.

Ultimate aim

But Mr Waterfield, MD of Waterfields' Bakery, says the ultimate aim of the academy, part of the management centre at Wigan and Leigh College, will be to move to the planned Leigh Sports Village.

He said: "Our aim is to deliver managerial training. We have tried with some degree of success to target the one shop, one-man businesses with up to 10 staff, but we find their main problem is the time factor.

"Part of the new funding will pay for cover to allow staff from these companies to use the range of support services we have to offer.

"One of our major successes has been the graduate placement scheme which has seen some ex-students finding permanent work with their companies before the end of their placement time.

"Since the launch, we have exceeded our target of attracting 40 companies, but next year our target is 60.

"Leigh has some of the most innovative businesses in the north west and we should like more of them to join us. Being part of the management centre is our guarantee of the high quality of the training support we deliver."

To find out how to develop staff knowledge and skills, call 01942 761885.