THERE was a double celebration for a training company's 20th birthday.

Training for Today, based in Lever Street, Bolton, combined the landmark event with an open day and the official opening of its new, expanded offices.

Councillor Walter Hall, the Mayor of Bolton, made an appearance to cap off the celebrations.

Tony McAdoo, TFT's marketing officer, said: "The need for more space was due to our dramatic success over the past two years, with growth in all vocational areas, especially with the expansion of the Young Apprenticeship programme, for people aged 14-16 years.

"It was decided to take an extra 3,000 square feet, which now houses management, management support, finance, administration, marketing, recruitment, clerical, tutors and assessors."

The company was started in 1989 to satisfy the demands for local, off-the-job training facilities for hairdressing salons' junior staff.

From small beginnings, training just twenty candidates for hairdressing NVQs, the company is now working with more than 500 trainees in numerous areas, from business administration, customer service and retail to team leading, management and social care.

The company has two training centres, in Bolton and Prestwich and employs 50 staff, but is still dependent on Government funding via the Learning and Skills Council.