A survey of an airport event aimed at putting suppliers in touch with buyers generated around £1.3million worth of business deals last year, a survey has revealed.

Research carried out by the BE Group on behalf of Stansted Airport showed nearly a dozen companies have already won over half a million pounds worth of business and a further 33 are expecting to sign deals of over £800,000 from its ‘Meet the Buyers’ event.

Dunmow Waste Management said it was still pursuing a number of leads potentially generating £100,000 worth of business, while technology firm Green Duck Ltd from Bury St Edmunds said the event gave it a number of fresh leads helping it to win around £2,000 worth of contracts.

“Meet the Buyers is an ideal way to showcase your own brand and build relationships with key decision makers from businesses in the region,” said Sarah Allen from Green Duck Ltd.

This year’s event takes place on Thursday, October 3, from 9am to 5pm at the Hilton Hotel at Stansted Airport and local firms are being encouraged to sign-up to get a slice of the action once again.

One company taking part is Elsenham based LPL Construction Services which has recently clinched a £10m contract at Stansted for the first phase of works for the airport’s £80m terminal redevelopment project.

It said the contact had secured 100 local jobs and could mean a £5m spin-off for other local suppliers they work with.

The airport’s head of public affairs Chris Wiggan said: “Bookings for this year have been fantastic and we already have over 30 buyers confirmed to participate.

“However, we do have a few spaces available for suppliers, so there’s still time to sign up. Over the last decade ‘Meet the Buyers’ has generated tens of millions of pounds in new sales and business opportunities for local and regional SMEs. This is an incredible achievement and has proven to be an invaluable business and networking event for both buyers and suppliers from across the East of England.”

The quick-fire meeting concept enables local firms and entrepreneurs to pitch their products and services to carefully selected senior buyers with multi-million pound buying requirements. To help local businesses get the most out of ‘Meet the Buyers’ the airport has held a series of seminars throughout the year. More than 200 company representatives took part in the seminar programmes that provided them with a better understand of how they can win business with companies at the 2013 event.

The aiport is a key catalyst for growth and jobs in the East of England and is the biggest single site employer in the region with more than 10,200 employees working for 190 on-airport companies. It also connects to more than 150 destinations that are vital to economic growth, inward investment and tourism.

Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils are involved in this year’s event and are encouraging local firms to sign up.