A BOLTON travel agent is spearheading a revolution among the town's small businesses.

In an attempt to compete with giant out of town retail parks, smaller traders are being given advice and training to fight back.

Andrew Dickson, managing director of St Andrew's Travel, and director with the Bolton Chamber, is behind the battle plan designed to put struggling businesses back on a more level playing field.

As such it concentrates particularly on small retail traders based within Horwich and Westhoughton, who have suffered most by the Middlebrook development.

Mr Dickson's "revolution" consists of a series of seminars, starting with a free workshop on Thursday, November 2, at the Jarvis International Georgian House Hotel from 6pm.

The feeling is that too many small traders have thrown in the towel and need help, both on how to improve their business and how to become motivated again.

A European grant has been obtained for the seminars.

Mr Dickson explained: "My business is doing okay, but only because we have changed and moved with the times. "When Middlebrook opened it affected everyone. A superstore pet shop opened and I know two small traditional pet shops closed nearby. A holiday hypermarket there is the equivalent in size to 12 high street travel agents.

"It all obviously had an impact. Competition is healthy and good, but many small traders are being left behind because they do not know how to change -- most have never seen any training in marketing for example.

"These seminars are designed to help them, but in addition the council needs to join in -- create brighter, nicer places in Horwich and Westhoughton.

"Traders will also have an option, paying a small fee, to take an NVQ in customer services.

"It is all about making people who never saw themselves as academics see how training can be relevant to them.

"Simple ideas like taking photographs of the shop front, and comparing them to competitors at Middlebrook can work.

"Alternately shopkeepers can always say something out of the ordinary that the customer would not expect -- 'good morning' these days can do it.

"It is time to stand up and be counted. Every trader in the area who has seen business eroded by the new retail parks should come along and bring their staff with them."