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Lanarkshire Meet the "Real" Buyer Announced

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Businesses across Lanarkshire are encouraged to attend a free event to help them successfully bid for work and contracts. Lanarkshire Meet the "Real" Buyer will take place on Tuesday, 30 November 2021. The virtual event is jointly hosted by North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and the Supplier Development Programme (SDP).

The online event allows businesses to meet procurement teams from public and private sector organisations and hear more about upcoming contracts they can bid for.

Councillor John Anderson, Chair of the South Lanarkshire Council Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, said: “This event will allow businesses a valuable opportunity to meet and engage with procurement teams from local councils, alongside other public and private sector buying organisations, private contractors and business support organisations.

“We recognise that this past year and a half has been a very challenging one for many businesses because of the global pandemic, but as the economic recovery gathers pace hopefully this event will give you the tools to potentially benefit from the contracts and tenders that are available.

“I hope as many businesses as possible across Lanarkshire take up the opportunity to attend this free, fully virtual online event.

Councillor Allan Graham, Convener of the North Lanarkshire Council Enterprise and Growth Committee, said: “Our previous Meet the Buyer events have been very popular with businesses in Lanarkshire, giving them useful information and advice on bidding for future contracts in the public and private sectors.

“The next event on 30 November will be an opportunity for businesses to learn more about the major plans to upgrade the road connections between Motherwell and Ravenscraig. This is a key part of a £127.2 million project, funded by the council and Glasgow City Region City Deal, to improve connections from Ravenscraig north to the M8 and south to the M74.”

A formal agenda has been announced, during which businesses will hear from Cleland Sneddon, Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Council and Des Murray, Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council.

Businesses will learn how to engage with both councils' procurement processes, how local authorities procure food and drink, and how both councils are building for growth in Lanarkshire in the construction industry.

Businesses will also learn about top tendering tips and gain insight into the support that is available to become "tender ready" for these future opportunities through SDP.

There will be additional time for attendees to ask questions to presenters and panellists and have them answered live.

Gillian Cameron, SDP Programme Manager, said: "The format SDP offers allows everyone to safely interact and facilitates crucial one-to-one networking opportunities between businesses and the actual commissioners of contract opportunities at both North and South Lanarkshire Councils.

"This event is open to all but is specifically aimed at local Lanarkshire businesses that can potentially fulfil upcoming tender and framework opportunities, to help keep procurement spend local for longer in line with the councils' strategy of Community Wealth Building.

"We hope that businesses will sign up free and experience for themselves how new routes to market can be found in the public sector."

Suppliers can register free on the Supplier Development Programme website.

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