Stansted Airport Meet-the-Buyers event could drum up £10m in sales for local businesses

London Stansted Meet the Buyers event, aerial view. Picture: Stansted Airport (Image: Archant)

A number of buyers have already signed up, including LPL Construction, University of East London, Cambridgeshire County Council and ISS.

This year’s event will be supported by a programme of two free workshops which can be registered for online:

‘Understanding Airport Procurement’: To help suppliers understand how supply chains and procurement works in and around the airport and ‘Pitching, Presenting & Networking’: The importance of researching customers ahead of the Meet the Buyers event and tips on securing the deal.

These workshops are designed as learning tools whilst supporting local SMEs in gaining business at the Meet the Buyers event as well as to promote the benefits and opportunities available at the Meet the Buyers.

Last year, the airport’s ‘Meet the Buyers’ business event has surpassed its previous success, generating over £9.3 million in sales for businesses who attended, a 95% increase on the previous year’s event.

The event welcomed 280 businesses from the East of England and London, ranging from small start-ups right through to larger companies, who attended in the hope of securing deals with nearly 50 organisations including National Express, London Stansted Airport, University of Essex and the NHS.

In total, since 2011 London Stansted Meet the Buyers has generated just under £22 million worth of business.

Jonathan Oates, Director of Corporate Affairs at London Stansted Airport said: “Year after year, this event adds real value to the economy around Stansted by helping local companies win new business and we hope to again set another record at this year’s event on 1 November.”