A FIRM specialising in helping struggling businesses is on the lookout for new talent for its rescue missions in Bolton and the M62 corridor.

Business Rescue is out to attract a franchise holder for what it believes it has identified as a niche area of business activity.

Currently spearheading the operation locally is former bank manager and operations director Mark Reece, who lives in Bolton and is currently filling the role in an area which also includes Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and parts of West Yorkshire like Halifax.

He said: “We noticed that there is lots of help for business start-ups and growth, but nothing for a company which starts to show signs of distress.

“We are not insolvency practitioners. We start from the premise that there is always something do to salvage a business or part of a business.”

“We never judge or blame. We simply guide and advise companies through difficult times with aim of helping them to recover and renew their business.”

Mr Reece said the size of business the company helps varies from organisations with an annual turnover of £42 million down to £25,000.

He said: “Our strategy is to conduct a forensic examination of the way a company functions to produce a ‘business medical’.

“We will get to the very core of a business and identify the causes of problems. Following our investigations, we will present a set of recommendations to take the business forward.”

Business Rescue, which has offices in Leyland, Lancashire and Harley Street in London, has been operating for 21 years, but it is only in the past two years that it has started operating using the franchise model.

Mr Reece added: “Some clients have, after turning things round, gone on to grow into highly successful companies.

“Others have decided to close things down, regroup and move on to pastures new.

“We have discerned that during the recession and even in good times there has been little or no professional help for struggling or insolvent businesses.

“Banks said they would help, but never did. Likewise government changes were few and far between and generally too slow.

“Insolvency practitioners attempt to help, but generally perform the role of undertakers.”