A LARGE-scale manufacturing and engineering exhibition will be the centrepiece of a four-day Bolton business initiative in February.

Organisers hope to attract at least 100 exhibitors, up to 50 buyers and more than 1,000 visitors when the Reebok Stadium complex stages a showcase "Meet the Buyer" event on Wednesday, February 19.

Various other attractions -- all tied in with the 750th anniversary of the Bolton charter -- are planned from Monday, February 17 and a dinner incorporating business awards is scheduled for the Thursday evening, February 20.

As previously reported, the Business Advantage team -- a division of Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce -- is receiving funding worth more than £1 million from the European Regional Development Fund and the UK government.

The pioneering initiative, which matches companies which sell with those which want to buy, also involves a number of seminars and workshops.

Another Meet the Buyer event, aimed at the construction sector, is to be staged at Wigan's JJB Stadium on Tuesday, November 26.

Business Advantage has high hopes for the February programme and is hoping for a good response from throughout the North-west, particularly the Business Link North Manchester area -- Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.

The Business Advantage Supply Chain and Events Manager, Ann Thornton, who has transferred to Commerce House, Bolton from Business Link in Rochdale, has organised similar events in the past.

"The last one I did in Rochdale I got 750 people there in one day," she said today.

Appointments will be arranged between buyers and sellers in a bid to make sure the exhibition is relevant to all concerned.

"It is a real opportunity for both sides," she said.

The selling for the Bolton exhibition was taking place now and they were looking for companies interested in sponsorship at the dinner.

It was also hoped to attract representation at the exhibition from Bolton's twin towns of Le Mans and Paderborn.

Mr John Birch, who is the Supply Chain Director in charge of Business Advantage, said 200 companies had so far expressed an interest in the work of the division.

"This is unique to Bolton," he said.

The team was likely to be 11-strong by next year.

Other activities include a North Manchester Business Advantage Networking Group which is due to meet on December 3 at the Moat House, Bolton.