A SCHEME to provide 'Guardian Angels' to fledgling firms in East Lancashire has attracted a top VIP to its annual awards ceremony.

Sir Richard Evans, chairman of British Aerospace, will be presenting the 1999 Guardian Angel award at the County Hotel, Blackburn on May 21.

The Guardian Angel scheme involves experienced business managers acting as mentors for younger companies with the aim of helping them grow and hopefully create new jobs.

Introduced into the Blackburn City Challenge area by the Blackburn Partnership in 1994, the scheme was expanded throughout East Lancashire in 1996 with the support of ELTEC.

It has helped create or safeguard more than 1,000 jobs in the area since it was launched.

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