Businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to take advantage of a predicted boom in the creative and construction sectors by attending a new suppliers and buyers event later next week.
Firms operating in the construction, creative, cultural and tourism sectors will have the opportunity to meet industry leaders and discuss supply chain opportunities, with tier one contractors GF Tomlinson, Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick set to attend the free Meet the Buyer event on Wednesday, June 15 at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Coventry City Council Events Team will also take part in the Meet the Buyer sessions, as they look ahead to Coventry’s highly anticipated Godiva Festival, for which they would like to meet local SMEs for a range of procurement opportunities.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub and event sponsors the Belgrade Theatre have organised the event in partnership with FinditinCW and Coventry City Council.
The Meet the Buyer event is part of the Coventry Creative Growth & Cultural Tourism Recovery Programme, being part-funded by the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund, through the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Craig Humphrey, managing director of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said this new event is an ideal opportunity for suppliers from a range of key sectors to benefit from the post-pandemic boom expected to take place in the creative and construction sectors over the next five years.
He added: “Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture has brought great economic benefits to the region, with an increase in investor support and supply opportunities, and the event is intended to further boost our businesses as they look optimistically to the future.
“A number of key contractors at our upcoming event have important contracts to fulfil and are keen to provide opportunities to local suppliers, so whether your business operates in creative, cultural, or tourism, or supplies those industries, this is the perfect event to expand business networks and find out about live and up-coming tender opportunities.
Presentations, as well as an exhibition, networking breakfast, refreshments and a meet the buyer session will take place throughout the morning.
Confirmed speakers include Sarah Windrum - chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Ian Harrabin MBE - managing director of Complex Development Projects, Matt Hadlington - senior business engagement manager at HS2, and Rebecca Howard - head of supplier relationship management at Coventry Building Society.
Sarah Windrum, chair of CWLEP, said: “The growth of supply chains that we’re seeing in the construction sector is providing exciting opportunities for Coventry and Warwickshire businesses, allowing them to be creative with their future projects and current developmental work.
“We’re excited to meet buyers and suppliers in attendance on the day and demonstrate how, through partnership, they can not only improve the prosperity of their respective businesses but also have a positive impact on the local economy.”
Ian Harrabin MBE, managing director of CDP, said: “It’s been a real privilege to have restored some of Coventry and Warwickshire’s most treasured landmarks, and we’ve turned to local suppliers every step of the way to support us in our mission.
“Our work to breathe new life into the region’s historic buildings is ongoing, in turn creating more opportunities to provide us with the materials we need to bring these buildings back into productive economic, cultural and social use.
“This upcoming event will enable us to connect with businesses close by that can help us take our regenerative efforts in the city and surrounding areas from project start right through to completion. We’re really looking forward to it.”
Buyers, speakers or exhibitors interested in getting involved in the Meet the Buyer event are urged to email claire@finditin.co.uk.
The event coincides with the launch of a new Creative, Cultural and Tourism Network on the region’s supply chain portal, FinditinCW.
The network, which has been funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund, has been designed to support businesses and freelancers in these sectors by facilitating access to supply chain opportunities, networking opportunities and providing a platform on which to promote their services to businesses across Coventry.
To find out more about the new portal visit https://www.finditincw.co.uk/creative-cultural-and-tourism-network.
Click here to book your place at the networking breakfast event.