EUROPEAN money is helping enhance education and training for Bury companies and individuals.

Now, thanks to the finance, Bury College has delivered 14 key projects this year to more than 600 learners.

The projects were financed through the European Social Fund (ESF) and range from call centre training to community guidance link.

Mr Tim Robson, project manager at the college, said: "The ESF exists to make a difference in the lives of students from all backgrounds, abilities and life experiences.

An awards evening was held at the Elizabethan Suite in Bury for those students who had demonstrated the greatest personal growth.

Each nominee received a £25 voucher and was put forward for an ESF beneficiary of the year award. Radcliffe Adult Centre is the venue for the call centre training, aimed at those who are unemployed and who want to improve their job prospects.

The course includes communication and listening skills, letter writing, the theory of telephone techniques and group work.

Bury College's multi-skilling project is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses across the borough and is delivered by the business solutions team.

Consultants conduct a training needs analysis and identify skill gaps, work with companies to put together an action plan and a suitable training package which meet the needs of an individual business.

The aim is to provide multi-skilling for staff working for companies with fewer than 250 employees.

By this month, around 150 local people had benefited from the scheme.

The women into multi-media course is for those with no formal information technology qualifications who are working fewer than 16 hours a week.

They can access multi-media training leading to qualifications.

The community guidance project aims to support people wanting to make the most of their employment and training opportunities.

Impartial advice and guidance is available and topics covered include job search skills, writing CVs, interview techniques and career development.

"The distance travelled by these individuals represents remarkable achievement and we are proud to be involved in the provision of ESF projects."