Firms in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are preparing to pitch for a share of contracts worth millions of pounds at a special match-making day.
Meet the Buyer will bring more than 30 major public and private sector buyers of business services face to face with local suppliers.
The day, at the Ageas Bowl, is being coordinated by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce with funding from a partnership of local authorities.
A similar event staged by the Chamber at the same venue last year generated deals worth an estimated £7 million. This was £750,000 up on the year before.
Denise Barlow, Head of Projects at Hampshire Chamber, said: “Meet the Buyer gives businesses an unrivalled opportunity to cut though the supply chain and meet major purchasers face to face all in one place on the same day.”
Buyers so far include Capita, Amey, Fasset, Kier, Scottish & Southern Energy, First Wessex, Geoffrey Osborne and Mansell Construction.
The event harnesses the power of bespoke match-making software that facilitates pre-scheduled appointments based on procurement needs and supply capabilities.
Registrations so far cover construction, building maintenance, engineering, electrical services, estate management, office supplies, air conditioning systems and waste management.
Mrs Barlow added: “Major buyers frequently find it too time consuming to sort through the myriad of local suppliers to find those who might be able to offer them a better deal. For their part, smaller businesses who often have innovative products and services can find it difficult to make effective approaches to larger buyers. Meet the Buyer is specifically designed to solve that mismatch.”
Meet the Buyer takes place at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, on 27 March, 2014.
Suppliers who register in advance can attend a free public sector procurement workshop sales training breakfast. The extra events are intended to help them make the most of the Meet the Buyer experience.
Meet the Buyer is funded by The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), Southampton City Council, East Hampshire District Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Winchester City Council and Havant Borough Council.
The fee to attend is £99 plus VAT per delegate for companies within the partnership area and £399 plus VAT for those located outside.
To register for the event, visit www.meetthebuyer.biz/supplier.
