BURY'S small business sector is booming thanks to the creation of 108 companies under the Working for Myself banner.

As well as getting a grant of up to £1,000, start-ups can also gain a special business qualification unique to Bury.

Bury Business Start Programme launched the thriving Working for Myself initiative a year ago, harnessing vital funding from Bury's Single Regeneration Budget 3 (SRB).

Those involved in Working for Myself can now be armed with a special business qualification, created specifically for Bury.

The three-day course is the brainchild of Mr Tony Morley whose UK training Matters Company, in partnership with Bolton Business Ventures, has carried out the training.

"I came on the programme, wrote the course and had it accredited. The course has several topics," he said.

"They include the creative approach to marketing, e-marketing and e-commerce and creative and lateral thinking towards business development. It's all about developing a competitive edge."

Tony added: "When the initiative had been running a year, we decided to create the course and accreditation for our Bury clients. That course has now been up-and-running for the last four months."

Those signing up to the Working for Myself scheme received a £1,000 grant, aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills.

And the success of the project is amply illustrated by the level of businesses that has been generated since its launch.

"A total of 108 new businesses in Bury have been started during the last 12 months, 32 of which have successfully completed the course," disclosed Tony. Among the companies set up are a driving school and one which sells black puddings on the Internet.

The successful Bury companies which completed the course received their certificates at a presentation held in the town's Europa House. Guest was Mr Mike West, Bury's SRB3 co-ordinator.