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Meet the Buyer event announced for Scotland

Scotland is #OpenForBusiness!

The Supplier Development Programme will hold the 14^th annual Meet the Buyer event, as a fully in-person event on 17 May 2023 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) with headline partner Scottish Government.

This will be the first in-person national Meet the Buyer event since 2019.

Taking place under one roof on one day, this free event will give Scottish businesses unprecedented access to buyers and decision makers from across the public and private sectors.

Businesses will be able to talk to key contractors and find out what tenders and projects they have in the pipeline for businesses for the supply of materials, goods, and services locally and nationally within Scotland and right across the UK.

In addition, sole traders and small businesses will have the opportunity to meet with larger trade and construction contractors that are connected to public sector projects.

These primary contracts want to engage with local businesses to get into their supply chains and Community Wealth Building opportunities related to 'project delivery on site'.

In an ever-expanding list, several Scottish local authorities are expected to exhibit, as well as regional and national organisations like Scottish Procurement Alliance and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

A full list of exhibitors can be viewed on the SDP website.

A formal agenda will be announced by the Supplier Development Programme in January.

Businesses will also have the opportunity to learn how to become ‘tender ready’ with top tips from SDP’s expert trainers on how to bid via Public Contracts Scotland and PCS-Tender, and new this year, the UK Government’s Contracts Finder.

Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager, Supplier Development Programme, said:

“Meet the Buyer 2023 is a must-attend event for every business based in Scotland.

“No business is too small to attend Scotland’s national Meet the Buyer event, as the public sector procures local goods, works, and services from small businesses, sole traders, and social enterprises from right across the country.”

The Scottish, UK and international public sector marketplaces offer small businesses extensive opportunities.

Businesses of all sizes, especially micro, small, and medium sized businesses and social enterprises are eligible to attend Meet the Buyer 2023 for free, but must register in advance by visiting www.sdpscotland.co.uk.