Help
Bristol businesses get the best
| Published: 25th May 2011 05:47 |
Businesses across the South West will have "unrivalled" access to some of the region's largest organisations next month, thanks to a unique Bristol-based event where they can showcase their goods and services.
The FSB Best of Bristol 'Meet the Buyer' exhibition will give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the "very rare opportunity" to meet buyers from some of Britain's biggest and most influential organisations.
Clifton Suspension bridge
The majority of regional SMEs lack the resources to be able to pitch to decision-makers in multi-national firms and so often miss out on being considered for contracts.
The event on June 21 will allow them to come face-to-face with buyers from organisations including Bristol City Council, the MoD, Boeing and UWE.
It follows a new Government directive aimed at boosting the local economy by increasing the level of products and services procured within the region by councils and other major contractors.
Neil Kinnerly of Business Sorted, which is running the one-day expo in conjunction with the Federation of Small Businesses and Bristol City Council, said: "The Meet the Buyers event is all about creating opportunities for SMEs to gain new business.
"It will allow local firms that have something to offer a rare chance to pitch themselves directly to the city's top contractors."
The event, at Mercure Holland House Hotel and Conference Centre on Redcliffe Hill, will connect local businesses with ten major buyers.
Public bodies and private companies including Bristol City Council, the MOD, Boeing, UWE, Clifton College, Lloyds TSB, MITIE Facilities Services Ltd and ISG Pearce are among the "big names" already confirmed.
Exhibitors and delegates booked for the event will receive a list of products and services that the buyers need or are putting up for tender.
The most applicable will be invited to undergo a brief interview with the buyers and, if successful, win the chance to pitch more formally for the contract.
"Not everyone is guaranteed an interview so my message to local firms taking part is to make their pitch as impressive as possible to get the buyers' attention," Mr Kinnerly said.
If an exhibitor's bid for an interview is not successful then there are still opportunities to meet the buyers during the event.
Mr Kinnerly added: "The buyers will be walking around the exhibition hall at certain points during the day so there are many chances to interact with them, and sell yourself.
"The interviews stop at 3pm and the final hour of the expo is there specifically for buyers to circulate among the exhibitors."
Guy Kingston, Chairman of the Bristol Branch of the Federation of Small Businesses said: "To have an event where small local businesses, the local council and larger businesses are all working together to support each other is very rare. We hope this event will be a catalyst for business growth in Bristol."
The FSB Best of Bristol 'Meet the Buyer' & B2B Exhibition takes place on Tuesday, June 21, from 10am-4pm at the Mercure Holland House Hotel.
To book exhibition space or for more information, phone: 0117 911 4223, email: info@businesssorted.com or visit www.businesssorted.com.
Report this article as inappropriate
Comments
You need to log in before you can do that! It's only a quick registration process to join the AMA network and completely free.
Loading...
Help