The University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) Business School has been awarded funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) in order to help it better link up with small businesses in the region.

Some £750,000 has been given by the organisation to provide workshops, courses, coaching and work experience exchanges to selected business by the university.

The finance comes as part of the Leading Enterprise and Development programme, which aims to work with firms with fewer than 20 employees helping them improve their business strategy and achieve growth.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, said: "By working with partners throughout the region our work can benefit a range of businesses."

UCLan's Business School will now work with 125 entrepreneurs across Lancashire as part of the initiative.

The university was established in 1992 and is now one of the largest in the UK, with more than 32,000 students, 500 undergraduate courses and 180 postgraduate courses.