Public Procurement and Property

Two weeks to go until Meet the Buyer South 2025!

September 24, 2025 by Scottish Procurement No Comments | Category Procurement news, Scottish Procurement, suppliers

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) is set to host the fourth annual Meet the Buyer South event on Wednesday 8 October at The Tait Hall, Kelso.

Delivered in partnership with East Lothian Council, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders Council, and South of Scotland Enterprise, this free event offers suppliers the chance to introduce their business to decision-makers from across the region, all under one roof.

It can be daunting if it is your first time attending a Meet the Buyer event. With a fantastic range of interesting exhibitors to entice you, now is the perfect time to prepare yourself and ensure your visit is valuable:

1. If you haven’t already, register via the Supplier Development Programme website!

2. Do your homework! Look at the exhibitor list on the Meet the Buyer South event page and consider which buyers you wish to meet. Once you have decided who you would like to engage with, go to their websites, read their contract procurement reports, and have a look at their contract registers to see if they buy things that your business offers. If you have questions for a specific buyer, make a note of these.
3. Prepare a verbal introduction of your business. Make sure you open the discussion with your company name, where your business is located and what your business does.
4. Plan your arrival. Be sure to plan your journey to the venue, consider where you may park (as there is no parking onsite), and your arrival time.
5. On the day, join the queues at the exhibition stands and gather leaflets, flyers, and information from the exhibitors. Buyers are encouraged to display upcoming tender opportunities, business support and other useful information that you can read while you wait.
6. Make a point to connect with other suppliers. Be sure to introduce yourself to suppliers attending the event, as you never know – they could become your next customer!
7. Finally, now you have found out all you need to know about future public sector contracts, brush up on your tendering skills with SDP’s free training! Why not take the next step, and improve your bidding skills with expert trainers? SDP offers a range of courses to suit every level – whether you are new to tendering or have extensive experience. Browse the free tender training on offer from SDP!

Book now!

Hundreds of suppliers have already registered to attend Meet the Buyer South 2025 in Kelso. It is a must-attend event for businesses of all sizes, based in the South of Scotland.

Attendance is free. However, you must register in advance through 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, Supplier Development Programme

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