The Lanarkshire Meet the “Real” Buyer event will offer the chance for suppliers to raise their profile as a business and learn about, and prepare for, upcoming contract opportunities.

Jointly hosted by South Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Councils, and supported by the Supplier Development Programme, the free event will take place on Wednesday, 22 February, in the Banqueting Hall at South Lanarkshire Council’s Headquarters, Almada Street, Hamilton.

Businesses will meet procurement teams from a variety of public sector organisations and have access to a wide range of exhibitions with services including:

• IT, Finance and Corporate
• Construction and Professional Services
• Social Care and Education
• Cleaning and Catering
• Waste, Environmental and Grounds
• Roads and Fleet
• Leisure and Culture

Councillor Robert Brown, Chair of Community and Enterprise Resources at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “Awareness of opportunities, knowledge of how to take advantage of them and quality of contacts and relationships have always been aspects that are vital to those in the supply business, and since we have emerged from the pandemic it has become even more the case.

“I am therefore delighted to see this Meet the “Real” Buyer event taking place, because it directly offers the chance to develop these three aspects with respect to the vitally important public sector, and I would urge any local suppliers to sign up and grasp this opportunity.”

Although all Scottish SMEs and supported businesses will be welcome to attend, Meet the "Real" Buyer will be of particular interest to businesses based in Lanarkshire and the surrounding areas, and anyone wishing to attend can book through the dedicated web page.

Non-SME suppliers are also eligible to attend and must register an account with SDP to book a place.

Gillian Cameron, Supplier Development Programme Manager, said: “With stability, predictability, sustainability, quick wins and long-term contracts, the public sector could offer an ideal customer profile to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

“Through a sustainable and effective model, South Lanarkshire Council and North Lanarkshire Council are working with the Supplier Development Programme to engage local businesses at this Lanarkshire Meet the “Real” Buyer event, and we want businesses of all sizes to showcase what they do and how they can potentially deliver products and services locally.

“This event is an ideal chance for local business to meet face-to-face with the real people who design and advertise local public sector contracts within Lanarkshire, and to connect with dedicated business support to help them bid better, like the Supplier Development Programme.”