BUSINESSES are being urged to get on board with a conference where more than £10 billion of contracts for building HS2 will be discussed.

So far six businesses from Bolton have signed up for the conference in Manchester, where the team behind high-speed rail will meet firms and industry groups ahead of the bidding process.

They are town planners Dickman Associates, Sherwin-Williams Prot-ective and Marine Coatings, steel fabricators Severfield, specialist contractor Taziker Industrial, civil engineers AE Yates Group and Network Scaffolding Contractors.

Organisers are asking businesses supplying anything from scaffolding to design services to take advantage of Europe’s biggest construction project which is expected to support 100,000 jobs.

Cllr David Chadwick, cabinet member for transport, said it was important for businesses to take advantage of the event.

He said: “We have some world class companies in Bolton, and I would like to encourage as many to sign up to the conference. It’s important they understand what is going on, and get involved now.

“The more Bolton businesses involved, the better. If we shorten the distance between the capital and here, I hope it will make Bolton a more attractive place for businesses.”

So far, 33 Greater Manchester businesses have registered to the Supply Chain Conference, outstr-ipping Merseyside and Lancashire which only have seven businesses interested.

Chief executive of HS2 Simon Kirby said the building project, which will connect London and Manchester and Leeds via Birmingham, is a ‘huge opportunity’ for businesses.

He said: “Put simply, HS2 is an unprecedented transport, investment and economic opportunity.”

The HS2 Supply Chain Conference takes place in Manchester on October 23. Businesses should email scc@hs2.org.k for more information.