East London Meet the Buyer 2024 helps local businesses secure valuable contracts.

East London Meet the Buyer 2024 helps local businesses secure valuable contracts.

The sold out Meet the Buyer event, delivered by UMi on behalf of London City Airport, facilitated over 500 appointments between buyers and suppliers, creating valuable connections and boosting local businesses.

Held at the London ExCeL, the event attracted over 300 attendees, including 23 major buyers and more than 130 suppliers. With so many businesses showcasing their services, suppliers had a unique chance to directly pitch to decision-makers, streamlining a process that could otherwise take months.

The success of the event wasn’t just in the numbers - efficiency is one of the most valuable elements of the day. With everything under one roof, suppliers made connections in just a few hours and buyers could explore a range of new offerings without leaving their city. For the businesses attending, it wasn’t just about meeting potential clients; it was about gaining access to pre-qualified leads, creating a day full of meaningful conversations rather than cold calls.

Speaking after the event, UMi’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suzanne McCreedy, highlighted the day’s achievements: “We’ve seen tremendous results from past Meet the Buyer events, having generated £185m worth of contracts overall, and this year’s turnout is a testament to that. The enthusiasm from local suppliers and the commitment from buyers to find new local partners shows how vital these connections are for driving business growth. As a business, UMi firmly believes that we can achieve more together than we can apart, so it’s incredibly rewarding to know that over 130 businesses had a direct line to procurement teams looking to invest locally.”

In total, six sponsors backed the event, with Diamond Sponsors Airius and Nationwide Platforms providing substantial support. Their involvement wasn’t just financial; they played an active role in engaging with businesses on the day, further highlighting the importance of collaboration between large companies and smaller suppliers.

London City Airport’s Chief Financial Officer, Wilma Allan, also reflected on the event’s continued success: “This was our fifth Meet the Buyer, and each year we see more local businesses walking away with substantial new business. Over £10m has been generated for SMEs since we began this journey in 2018, and the momentum from this year’s event suggests that figure is only set to grow.”

The 2024 event didn’t just offer a space for business; it also underlined the commitment from the public and private sectors to supporting local economies. The 23 buyers, including notable names like ExCel London, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and of course London City Airport, came ready to connect with East London suppliers. Many found new ways to streamline their operations by working with these local businesses, driving sustainability and efficiency within their supply chains.

Looking ahead, there’s no doubt that events like these will continue to grow in significance. For both SMEs and larger organisations, the East London Meet the Buyer has become a vital opportunity to not only network, but secure lasting partnerships. As UMi and London City Airport gear up for future events, businesses across the region will be watching closely to see how they can take advantage of this platform to fuel their own growth.

With a full house of suppliers and buyers ready to do business, the 2024 edition of Meet the Buyer has firmly cemented its place as a cornerstone of East London’s business scene.

For more information and to register your interest for a future East London Meet the Buyer event, visit; https://www.eastlondonmtb.com/