Prepare for Meet the Buyer 2026

It can be daunting walking through the doors of Meet the Buyer as a visitor, especially if it is your first time attending a Meet the Buyer event.

With a fantastic range of interesting exhibitors to visit and speaker presentations to entice you, there is plenty you can do in advance to prepare yourself to ensure you make your visit profitable for you, no matter what size your organisation is!

1. Download the Attendee App on your Apple or Android device. Using the app on the day will allow you to benefit from our ‘fast track’ registration, view the floorplan and agenda, as well as connect with other attendees all at the touch of a button. Your login details will be emailed to you by MTB@speak.co.uk.
2. Do your homework! Look at the listed Buyers on the Meet the Buyer event page and consider which Buyers you wish to meet. Once you have decided which buyers you would like to meet, 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 already. The SDP’s guide to “Who buys what in Scotland?” is a good starting point.
3. Prepare an informal verbal introduction of your business and what you can provide or supply to the public sector. Open the discussion with your company name, where your business is located, and what you do.
4. Prepare a list of questions for buyers. If you have questions for a specific buyer, or about potential upcoming contract, framework, or Quick Quote opportunities, make a note of these. 
5. Prepare your contact information in advance! When you connect with a buyer or another supplier on the day, you’ll want to exchange your contact information. Bring along a physical or digital business card to share. You can also connect with attendees using the ‘Attendee Connect’ functionality on the Attendee App. 
6. A few days before, Check the Meet the Buyer event page on the SDP website to check for any updates.
7. Plan your arrival. Whilst registration opens at 9:45am, SDP recommends arriving later in the day to beat the queues.
8. On the day, join the queues at the exhibition stands and gather Buyers’ leaflets, flyers, and information. Buyers are encouraged to display upcoming tender opportunities, business support and other useful information that you can read while you wait.
9. Make a point to connect with other suppliers. Be sure to introduce yourself and “connect” to exchange contact details with other potential suppliers attending the event throughout the exhibition hall or in the Networking Zone. (They could become your next customer!)
10. Finally, now you have found out all you need to know about future public sector contracts, brush up on your tendering skills with the Supplier Development Programme’s free training! Why not take the next step, and improve your bidding skills with SDP’s expert trainers? SDP offers a range of courses to suit every level - whether you are new to tendering or have years of experience. Browse the free tender training on offer from SDP!