BUSINESSES in Bury have six million reasons to celebrate the New Year.

Because that's the value of orders up for grabs via Bolton and Bury Chamber's Business Advantage service.

Business Advantage, which is backed by the Bury Times, was launched in November to help local firms win new business and cut costs.

Run by supply chain management professionals, it operates like a sophisticated business "dating agency" which precisely matches buyers with sellers.

Says Andrew Ratcliff, chief executive of the Chamber: "During 2002. the Chamber will be doing everything in its power to help local businesses stave off an economic downturn.

"We will be bringing in many millions of pounds worth of opportunities from local, regional, national and international sources."

He added: "Of course, the important part is helping firms to convert these orders into lucrative deals and this will be our major focus in the new year. "Our focus to date has been on building up the critical mass of orders and now with our new dedicated customer tracking software system in place, we will bring out the real value by matching up the business."

Mr Ratcliff continued: "Thank you to all those businesses who are supporting our initiative and I urge every local company, big and small alike, to register with us and to share in the benefits."

Added Kathryn Czaja, commercial director for Business Advantage: "We have an impressive portfolio of orders from agricultural and lorry tyres to computers,coathangers and dental gold.

"In the past two months, around 300 businesses have been audited and approved as Business Advantage members and we'll be seeing a further 200 in January."

She went on: "We will also be expanding our team in the new year which will enable us to include more businesses and thereby boost the breadth and depth of opportunities for participants."

For further information about Business Advantage contact 0845 1773599,or e-mail businessadvantage@chamberhelp.co.uk