Public Procurement and Property

The countdown is on to Meet the Buyer 2023

February 17, 2023 by Jennifer Payne No Comments | Category Meet the Buyer, Supplier Development Programme, suppliers, supported businesses, Third sector

A Meet the Buyer event is an opportunity for suppliers (businesses) to introduce themselves to public sector buyers and private sector primary contractors to learn about new projects, contracts, framework opportunities, dynamic purchasing systems, and supply chain opportunities. On the buyer side, Meet the Buyer events offer transparency into the shop window of the public sector, and an opportunity to increase engagement with potential suppliers and widen their supply chains. Overall, Meet the Buyer events offer suppliers a great opportunity to network.

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) organises the largest free national Meet the Buyer event in Scotland on an annual basis and will be held on Wednesday, 17 May.

Scotland’s Meet the Buyer is a large-scale event that demonstrates commitment to open, connected and transparent procurement. It gives much-needed visibility of Scotland’s sustainable approach to economic recovery, and how the public sector robustly supports Scottish SME businesses and social enterprises to compete equally, equitably and effectively for public sector contracts and business growth opportunities worth £14.5bn annually.

Headline partners include the Scottish Government, Scotland Excel, the Supplier Development Programme, and the UK Department for Transport. Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, is also confirmed to deliver an address on the day, subject to Parliamentary business. There will be exciting speakers and panels on two stages: the Power of Procurement Stage, which will feature procurement in Scotland, and the UK Department for Transport stage, which will feature procurement with procurement opportunities for Scottish businesses looking to do business at the UK level.

Whatever the size of a business, this Meet the Buyer event is an unmissable opportunity to expand knowledge of innovative local goods, works and services that can be offered to the public sector. Many of Scotland’s local authorities are confirmed to exhibit, from The Highland Council in the North to Dumfries and Galloway Council in the South. There will be a construction zone dedicated to engaging with Scotland’s supply chains and Community Wealth Building opportunities, championed by hub East Central Scotland and there will also be exhibitions from Scotland’s health board in Greater Glasgow and Clyde with others to be confirmed.

Additionally, public bodies such as Scottish Enterprise, Social Security Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Scottish Procurement Alliance, and Partnership for Housing Scotland will be in attendance with more exhibitors expected to be confirmed.

Meet the Buyer also offers the opportunity to engage with the Supplier Development Programme, Scotland’s local authority economic development initiatives, and other business support. This Meet the Buyer event is specifically designed to help Scotland’s SMEs and social enterprises understand what public sector buyers are looking for and give suppliers insight on what contracts are coming up, how bids are likely to be evaluated from a procurement perspective, and what businesses can do now to prepare.

The key takeaway from the day for everyone in attendance: Scotland is open for business.

Aimed at Scottish SMEs and social enterprises but open to businesses of all sizes, supplier tickets are free and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Please book in advance on the SDP website.

For further information on public procurement in Scotland please visit www.gov.scot/procurement

Please email enquiries to scottishprocurement@gov.scot

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Tags: Meet the Buyer, meet the buyer 2023, Supplier Development Programme, Suppliers

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