ENTREPRENEURS and start-up businesses in the borough have received a huge boost as a new business academy was launched.

The Made In Bury Business Academy has been created to help provide start-ups with the sufficient training required to start and maintain a successful business.

Through the academy entrepreneurs can take part in a 12 month programme to with 18 modules covering subjects from social media and PR to branding and legal.

Its founders hope that the scheme will help to prevent the large number of new start-ups which fail every year.

Debi and Phil Fellone, from Made in Bury Ltd, said: “Every year, thousands of new business are formed and a high percentage of those fail.

"The national statistics for a new start-up business surviving the first couple of years are scary and the Business Academy was created to help new business owners broaden their skills and future-proof their business.”

To launch the academy a special even was held, attended by more than 60 guests from Bury businesses, photographers, architects, event planners, digital marketing agencies, cake makers, cleaners, estate agents and dog groomers.

Made in Bury Ltd was established in 2012 with the aim of bringing together the local business community and its academy is funded by the Made In Bury Weekly £2,000 Draw, whose profits all go towards supporting business in the borough.

For further information about the Business Academy or any other Made in Bury events call 0161 447 8814 or email info@madeinbury.co.uk.