THE hotel industry in the Warrington area will receive a boost as a result of new finance from the European Social Fund and the new Small Business Service for Cheshire and Warrington.

Business Link, Warrington, made a successful bid to the ESF for cash for a pilot scheme to offer 20 hotels a programme of improvement, efficiency and profitability.

The scheme will cover Warrington and other areas of Cheshire which will come into the new Small Business Service for Cheshire and Warrington. This becomes operable this year and will keep the Business Link name.

The initiative will be run in partnership with Warrington Borough Council's Economic Development Unit.

Sandra Brusby, chief executive of the new SBS, said: "Tourism is an important area of growth in the region and this programme improves standards through efficiency and increased profitability, promoting business confidence and job opportunities."

The programme was launched on January 23. The hotels involved will be provided with a 70 per cent. grant towards the cost of consultancy work.

Take up of the scheme has been popular and only a few places remain.

Twenty hotels benefit from European money