AN initiative to help women climb the managerial ladder is being introduced in Greater Manchester.
The "Women Adding Value Through Enterprise" (WAVE) programme has been jointly designed by Skillfast UK, Burnley College and Blackburn College.
The scheme, which launches in Bury on March 15, aims to teach women how to break down the barriers that prevent them from progressing their careers at the same pace as their male counterparts.
Skillfast, a skills council for the clothing and textiles industry, believes that women in supervisory roles can easily make the transition to management by simply boosting their confidence and key skills.
Linda Florance, chief executive, said good management and entrepreneurial ability are now more important than ever in the textile trade.
She said: "The WAVE project won&apos;t only find the types of barriers that are holding women back, it will also take action to overcome them. In the global marketplace, there is an increased need for highly skilled managers who can ensure businesses remain productive and competitive."