A LEADING entrepreneur yesterday urged company bosses to embrace Internet technology transforming the business world.

Leigh-born David Atherton, who built a £90 million turnover company from scratch, made his plea as he opened the fourth annual Bolton and Bury Business Voice exhibition.

Mr Atherton owns and is managing director of the dabs.com computer sales business -- formerly Dabs Direct -- which is thriving on the Wingates Industrial Park at Westhoughton.

Earlier this year, it won the Bolton and Bury Company of the Year title for the second time.

There was further success when the annual business awards judges also made Mr Atherton Business Person of the Year.

The Business Voice exhibition, which continues to 4pm tonight features an Innovation and Technology conference in the Lion of Vienna Suite.

The hotline number for tickets is 01204 374695.

At the opening ceremony, Mr Atherton said: "The futuristic theme is particularly interesting and relevant to me as my company, dabs.com, is an e-tailer selling IT equipment to businesses and consumers alike.

"We conduct the majority of our business via our website, which was launched just over a year and a half ago, and it is fascinating to watch how important the Internet is becoming as a transactional medium.

"The exhibition, with its conference on WAP Communication technology, e-marketing and web security, reflects this growing trend and I believe it is something that businesses ignore to their detriment."

Earlier, Mr Atherton said: "As an owner of a local business with a national customer base I am heartened by the attendance today of such household names which include well-known banks, car dealerships and brewers.

"I believe this is testament to the significant role the North-west plays in UK business.

"It is also important that we do not forget the smaller businesses and it is great that Business Voice offers a forum for growing business to showcase its talents and develop strategic relationships."

Mr Atherton, aged 42, who went to Thornleigh College, Bolton, plans to float the company on the stock market when the time is right.

He also intends to relax his grip on the reigns by changing his role in the company to chairman.

Dabs.com, which currently employs 190 people, began life in a small office in north Manchester in 1990.

It has been on the Wingates Industrial Park since 1996.