COMPANIES are being offered the chance to "strike gold" in the £500 billion public sector market.

Bolton and Bury Chamber's Business Advantage division is organising an event at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday, February 28 to advise firms how to tender for public sector contracts.

Gareth Jones, acting head of purchasing at the Department of Health, will talk about how small and medium-sized companies can tap into the lucrative public sector.

He will be joined by Mark Box, a senior purchasing professional from the Ministry of Defence Suppliers Service.

Also present will be Mike Kirkman, Corporate Procurement Manager for Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, who will offer advice on selling to Local Authorities.

Richard Coulthurst, Supply Chain Development Adviser for the Chamber, said: "One of the business myths is that the public sector is only interested in contracting with large companies.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are losing out on billions of pounds of potential contracts."

For more information, call Richard Coulthurst on 01204 374666 or e-mail rcoulthurst @chamberhelp. co.uk