CARING Bury companies know BEST when it comes to supporting a £1.5 million Embracing Diversity initiative for the disadvantaged.

Some of the biggest names in the borough will be giving their backing to the key Bury Employment Support & training (Bury EST) Employer Forum on Diversity event. The forum will be held at the Village Hotel, Prestwich, on Wednesday, July 31 from 8am onwards.

The major objective of the three-year Embracing Diversity scheme, which has been financed by the European Social Fund, is to combat inequality and discrimination in the labour market.

Bury EST will address the recruitment, selection, job design, job retention and re-integration in the workplace of people from excluded groups and communities. Those who are being targeted include young people leaving care and in the Asian community.

Companies and organisations which are expected to be represented include Bury Council, Bury College, PC World Business, Pfizer Adams, B&Q, Molygran, Unifi Dyed Yarns, Fairfield Hospital NHS Trust and Trumeter.

Playing a key role in liaising with these and other firms will be well-known local businessman Mr Fred Bowen, who has recently joined the Bury EST team as employment consultant. Fred, who for many years ran the Cornmarket Fish and Chip Bar, was previously chairman of Bury Chamber of Trade and is the current chairman of Bury College's board of governors.

As an employer, he provided a number of quality training placements within his business and employed a number of disabled people on a permanent basis.

He is charged with leading Bury EST's work with local employers and driving forward the new Employer Forum on Diversity.

Lee Salad has been with the organisation since its formation in the early 1990s and has been appointed project manager. During that period, Bury EST has found more than 100 jobs for the disabled.

Any companies wishing to attend the forum should ring Fred Bowen on 253 6588.