NIPPA, the North's leading early years organisation, and economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland, are teaming up in Tyrone to provide free training for women thinking of starting their own childcare business.

The initiative comes under Invest NI's Pathfinding programme and includes seven weeks of training at Omagh College on Mountjoy Road. The dates are April 18 and 25; and May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Margaret Alton, NIPPA's business development adviser, says, "The training is open to women all over Northern Ireland and they don't need any qualifications to attend. Community groups as well as individuals can take part.

"The training will be a mix of talks, group work and individual learning, and the seven modules include everything from making the right contacts to staffing issues and financial planning.

"To give extra encouragement, there will also be talks by women who have already been successful in business."

Claire Herron, manager of Invest NI's New Pathways to Female Entrepreneurship programme, adds, "We are delighted to be working in partnership with NIPPA on this programme, which will lead to more women starting up businesses to provide quality childcare."

For further information about the Pathfinding programme, please contact margaret Alton at NIPPA on 028 9066 2825; email margareta@nippa.org