A series of courses have been launched to help nursery managers and childminders run more effective businesses - and the result could be more childcare places for working parents.

The government initiative provides free training to help private and council-run nurseries and childminders to grow their businesses and cut the high number of childcare schemes which fold.

The workshops, run for the second year by government organisation Sure Start Bradford, will highlight the importance of financial balance and marketing in the childcare industry.

Sure Start spokesman Aiden Relf said the workshops would educate those with plenty of skills in childcare but with little knowledge of business management.

"Childcare professionals are not necessarily motivated by making a profit," he said. "A report by the National Audit Office shows that for every two childminding businesses set up since 1997, one has gone under as business has not been sustained."

He said the workshops, which are specifically aimed at deprived areas and places where transport for parents and childminders is difficult, would also let childcare professionals from the same district meet and discuss tactics.

"It strengthens businesses from the inside," he said.

One nursery manager who benefited from last year's training was Catherine Bryan, who set up Cute Companions on Leeds Road in Idle seven years ago.

"It was very useful, I just wish it had been available a few years before," said Mrs Bryan whose private nursery has expanded since it was first set up with a capacity for 28 children to now have enough room to look after 58 infants and toddlers.

"I would totally recommend the training, even if you have been running the business for a few years already," she said.

Mrs Bryan said the training had been very straightforward, and was especially easy to understand because the whole course was based around childcare work.

"Some courses cater for several types of business, but this was much easier to follow," she said.

Mrs Bryan said there had been a range of people at the workshops, from private nursery staff to Sure Start childcare workers and childminders.

"We got to chat through situations and compare experiences," said the manager, who added that the training helped with ideas about marketing and keeping up with the competition.

"It totally changed the financial side of things," she said.

The workshops will be running throughout the next two months, with sessions taking place in and outside of usual working hours.

For more information or to register in advance telephone 0800 294 2904 or log onto www.surestart.gov.uk/support4business.

The first session will be held at the Hutson Street Community Centre on Newall Street on February 1.