Suppliers get ready to ‘Meet the Buyer’

A group of people standing in an Applegreen service station.

Pictured are Phil Murray (Programmes Manager, NI Chamber), Tanya Anderson (Head of International & SME Development, NI Chamber), Margaret Gallagher (Regional Manager Northern Ireland, Applegreen) and Niall Devlin (Head of Regional Business Banking NI, Bank of Ireland UK).
 

21 October 2019

Over 25 of Northern Ireland’s top firms will join Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) and Bank of Ireland UK at their largest ‘meet the buyer’ event to date.

The event, which forms part of the NI Chamber and Bank of Ireland UK cross-border ‘Connecting for Growth’ programme, is a unique opportunity for local companies to pitch products and services to potentially significant new customers. For the first time, it will also include access to three ‘expert hubs’. Running throughout the morning, these hubs will enable delegates to gain expert advice on Brexit, Digital and Procurement.

Buyers will be seeking to meet potential new suppliers and grow their supply chains during one-to-one meetings at the event on 6 November at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast.

Retailer Applegreen, agri-technology company Devenish Nutrition, Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast are amongst the diverse range of major buyers who will be in attendance. Other organisations seeking new suppliers include Bank of Ireland, BBC, GRAHAM Group, The Mount Charles Group, CAF Rail, MJM Group, Caterpillar, NI Water, Moy Park, Sandvik and Translink.

Tanya Anderson, Head of International & SME Development, NI Chamber, explains:

“We are thrilled to have secured some of the top companies in Northern Ireland to meet with suppliers at this year’s ‘Meet the Buyer’. The event is a hugely valuable opportunity for buyers to learn about products and services which can help their organisations to grow in scale and efficiency, whilst providing local companies with the opportunity to pitch products and services to new customers with significant procurement requirements.

“Last year, 70% of delegates who attended this event identified new business opportunities through one-to-one meetings, while a further 70% made new connections through networking with other suppliers. In a single morning, the number of potential new leads and opportunities is huge and we are looking forward to helping this year’s attendees capitalise on the opportunity it provides.

“This year, in addition to buyer appointments, we are also hosting three expert hubs which will provide on-site advice covering some of the most pertinent topics for business right now – Brexit, Digital and Procurement. NI Chamber members are also welcome to register for the hubs, regardless of whether they are attending a buyer meeting.”

Niall Devlin, Head of Regional Business Banking NI at Bank of Ireland UK added:

“At the heart of this programme is the understanding that for business growth both a strong supply chain and cross border trade are key. As 71% of exporters on the Island of Ireland state that cross-border trading is the catalyst for exporting further afield, the Meet the Buyer event has become an invaluable platform. It enables SME’s to not only do business but build new relationships, gain access to expertise for a stronger understanding and increase confidence to seek business growth through procurement and cross border trade.”

The ‘Meet the Buyer’ event will take place on 6 November 2019 from 9:15am – 1:00pm at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. For more information and to register for the expert hubs, please visit www.northernirelandchamber.com.