THE former chairman of Bolton training Group, Mr Bill Calderbank, performed the opening ceremony for the new Pitman Training Centre in Bolton town centre.

Horwich-based BTG ran its computer and secretarial training division for five years under the name of Minerva Training Services.

But it has now been transferred from Bark Street East to Knowsley Street and the business is now a franchise of Pitman, a national training and education company.

There are more than 70 Pitman Centres nationwide. Mr Calderbank, who recently received the MBE for his dedication to training, was a director of BTG for 25 years, vice-chairman for 18 years and chairman for five.

He opened the new offices, which have been in operation since the start of the year, by cutting a ribbon outside.

Mr David Ball, the current BTG chairman, said that 1,500 students had been enrolled on various training packages during the last five years.

"Over the past 12 months the enrolments have increased substantially," he said. "This has greatly influenced the board's decision to convert the facility to a Pitman Centre.

"Another major factor in this decision was the commitment and enthusiasm of our full-time tutors, Christine Green and Karen Wolfenden.

"They have been instrumental in turning the business around."

Mr Ball said that it was anticipated that the Pitman name alone would increase business by 15 to 20 per cent.

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