THREE businesses in Brierfield have been loaned computer equipment as part of a Community Economic Development (CED) project aimed at helping the ethnic minority community overcome the practical hurdles of using IT.

It has been funded with cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Lottery Community Fund and it is hoped it will eventually help create more jobs in the borough.

Motor Wares Parts and Accessories, Heat Save Windows and Ministerial Claims were presented with their new equipment at Brierfield Community Centre by the Mayor of Brierfield, Councillor Lyn Heaton.

The New Directions project operated by the Ethnic Minority Benevolent Association (EMBA) is the first European project in Pendle to help raise awareness of the benefits of information technology to Brierfield's micro businesses.

It aims to change attitudes towards IT within the ethnic minority community by providing advice and support to small businesses in Brierfield which employ fewer than ten people.

Research carried out by East Lancashire Business Link, showed that more than 80 per cent of ethnic minority micro businesses were not using IT.

The project helps overcome this by producing bilingual information about IT and involves loaning IT equipment for a short period so that they can see at first hand how much difference it makes and have time to learn how to make the most of the technology before committing themselves to buying new equipment.

Pendle Partnership's CED programme officer Andy Wilson said: "This is a very interesting project. There is clearly a need for IT support specifically aimed at micro businesses in the ethnic minority community.

"I would urge businesses to take advantage of this service funded by European cash. Euro cash is really starting to make a difference in Pendle's least affluent communities."