Public Procurement and Property

Meet the Buyer events – what are they and why should your business attend?

February 26, 2025 by Teigan Kelly No Comments | Category Procurement news, Scottish Procurement

What are Meet the Buyer events?

Meet the Buyer events provide opportunities for suppliers to introduce themselves to public sector buyers and private sector contractors, to learn about upcoming projects, contracts, frameworks, and supply chain opportunities.

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) host a large number of Meet the Buyer events in Scotland each year, from local to Scotland’s flagship national event.

With a variety of Meet the Buyers taking place every year, how do you decide which to attend? Here is a breakdown of the key Meet the Buyer events that take place in Scotland.

Meet the Buyer local events

Local Meet the Buyer events typically focus on a single Local Authority, such as the Dumfries & Galloway Council Meet the Buyer Roadshow and the Glasgow Meet the ‘Real’ Buyer.

These events are an ideal opportunity for local suppliers to engage with key buyers and decision makers, to understand Council spend and procurement. Local Meet the Buyer events also allow you to raise your profile, which helps to ensure your local Council is aware of your business or third sector organisation.

SDP recommend attending local Meet the Buyer events in your own Local Authority area, as buyers are keen to engage with local suppliers to support the national Community Wealth Building agenda.

Meet the Buyer regional events

Regional Meet the Buyer events allow suppliers to engage with several Local Authorities, or other public sector organisations that operate within an area at one event. Regional Meet the Buyers include Meet the Buyer North, Meet the Buyer Tayside, and the new West Dunbartonshire Meet the ‘Real’ Buyer.

If you would like to work with various organisations in a particular region, our regional Meet the Buyer events are a great fit for you.

Meet the Buyer National 

SDP hosts Meet the Buyer National, the largest free procurement event in Scotland, every summer. Meet the Buyer National showcases contract and supply chain opportunities across the whole of Scotland.

This event gives businesses access to public sector buyers including, local authorities, NHS boards, Higher Education institutions, framework operators (such as Scotland Excel), as well as other buyers like Historic Environment Scotland, Registers of Scotland, and many more.

Meet the Buyer National also hosts a wide variety of private sector contractors with active supply chain opportunities across Scotland, all of which need subcontractors.

Alongside providing access to contract opportunities, the national event plays host to a number of business support organisations, who will be on hand to signpost you towards funding and training that can help to grow your business.

With over 60+ exhibitors from across the public and private sector in attendance each year, Meet the Buyer National is the best event for those looking to meet Scotland’s key buyers in one day, all under one roof.

So, which event should your business attend?

Attending all types of Meet the Buyer events is the best way to stay up to date with the latest in procurement, learn about contract and supply chain opportunities, and increase awareness of your business among key buyers from across the public and private sectors.

However, with such an array of Meet the Buyers taking place across Scotland each year, you may wish to prioritise those most in line with to your strategic business goals. 

If you can only attend one event this year, make it Meet the Buyer National.

Register with the Supplier Development Programme to stay up to date with the array of Meet the Buyer events happening across Scotland this year.

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Tags: events, Meet the Buyer, Supplier Development Programme

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