BOLTON'S business support network has been hailed as a model for the UK by a top Government minister.

On a visit to the Bolton Business Investment Centre in Bridgeman Place on Monday, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng praised the work done for minority ethnic small businesses.

He highlighted the efforts from agencies such as Bolton Business Support Unit and the Ethnic Minorities Business Service, before visiting the Social Inclusion Training Unit on Spa Road.

"What you have in Bolton is a business service that is clearly reaching the whole community," he said.

"It is unlocking the productive capacity of the town in a way that is good news for the North-west as a whole.

"In talking to the businesses here today, I have had a real insight into what we need to do nationwide to grow the economy and breach the productivity gap."

In the pre-budget report last November, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a review of business enterprise and the ways in which small and medium-sized businesses could grow.

Mr Boateng said that the Bolton agencies should serve as an example.

He said: "I think this model can be replicated effectively nationwide, both by local authorities through the crucial role of JobCentre Plus, which is why we want to see set-ups like this continue to be funded and resourced well.

"What we are seeing here are businesses and jobs being grown throughout the whole community, through a really effective partnership."

The MP for Bolton South East, Dr Brian Iddon, who was with Mr Boateng, said: "I'm very pleased that Mr Boateng has been able to visit to see what is, in my opinion, the best ethnic minority business service in the country."

Dr Iddon pointed out that the model used by Bolton Ethnic Minorities Business Service was already being reproduced throughout Lancashire.