BOLTON School is supporting this year’s Bolton and Bury Business Awards as the sponsor of the Young Person/Apprentice of the Year award.

Cathy Fox, the clerk and treasurer at the independent day school, said: “This is the third year Bolton School has been involved in the business awards and we are proud to be sponsoring this category.

“We look forward to the awards evening on June 21.

There is always a good buzz and we feel it is important young people who have made a difference in the local community are rewarded.”

She added: “Bolton School has a long history, dating back almost 500 years, of offering both academic excellence and outstanding extra-curricular opportunities for young people from Bolton and the North West.

With almost 2,400 pupils, enjoying an education from nursery to sixth form, we are one of the biggest schools in the country.

“We are also one of Bolton’s largest employers.

Aside from the school, and perhaps less well known, are a number of commercial activities we undertake through Bolton School Services Limited (BSSL).

“Three services operate under this umbrella company, BSS Events and Lettings, BSS Coaches and Patterdale Hall. The profit generated from these businesses is ploughed back into the school’s bursary fund, which offers financial ties. The Arts and Conference Centre offers an original, and much sought-after wedding venue with the school’s grounds and dramatic facade providing a stunning backdrop to the day.

“We regularly host conferences and events for local, regional and national organisations. The sports facilities are also much in demand, with local clubs making regular use of the outstanding football pitches, tennis courts, sports hall and swimming pool.

“The events and lettings team also operate their own activities weeks and swimming club. The school has even been known to hire itself out as a backdrop for films and BBC dramas.”

BSS Coaches operates a fleet of a dozen vehicles, including executive coaches, which are regularly utilised by other schools, professional sports teams and local groups and are always in high demand for anything from day trips to international travel.

Mrs Fox said: “Patterdale Hall, set in stunning grounds on the shores of Lake Ullswater, provides residential and outdoor education programmes for commercial clients. The school’s own yacht, Tenacity of Bolton, is also available for hire to individuals and groups looking for sailing adventures around the UK.

“Kidzone, our childcare service, offers holiday clubs which are open to all children aged four to 13 years as well as pre-and after-school care for our own pupils during term-time.

“The latest addition to our business portfolio is a Bolton School online merchandise store which we have launched with The Silk Group. For details, see boltonschoolmerchandise.

org.”