The UK’s leading automotive trade association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and UKTI’s Automotive Investment Organisation (AIO) are committed to improving the competitiveness of the nation’s supply base and increasing the level of local commodity sourcing and SMMT and UKTI are working with the Automotive Council and the supply chain to help them understand opportunities in the UK automotive sector and available government support. The partnership on these activities helps to facilitate business opportunities through regular ‘Meet the Buyer’ events, designed to provide a platform to build new and strengthen existing business relationships and increase investment in the UK.
The events aim to match OEM and tier 1 buyers to suitable suppliers based on the buyer sourcing requirements. Past Meet the Buyer events have been heavily focused on increasing sourcing from UK based companies and have all received good feedback and continuously receive considerable interest from both buyers and suppliers to participate year after year.
SMMT have hosted seven Meet the Buyer events between 2010 and 2013 and two additional events in partnership with AIO in 2014 and 2015. The last event in central London helped to facilitate over 320 one-to-one meetings with over 400 individuals representing supply chain companies from OEMs, tier one and two suppliers from the UK and overseas.
SMMT uses the Automotive Supplier Finder (ASF) to source the companies, which meet buyer demand for capabilities and capacity and are subsequently invited to Meet the Buyer events.
These events are traditionally “by invitation only.” This year interested suppliers may attend the show without receiving an invitation, however access to the buyer appointments will be subject to invitation and based on your Expression of Interest
Interested suppliers
In order to be considered for an invite to the event, there are just three general criteria each company must meet but please note, each buyer will have additional criteria eg quality standards therefore we cannot guarantee any one to one meetings:
You must be able to demonstrate automotive capabilities and capacity to meet demand; and
You must have a manufacturing or sales presence in the UK; or
be based outside the UK with a genuine interest in investing in the UK; and
Companies MUST submit the online expression of interest profile. Failure to submit a profile will significantly reduce the opportunities available for suppliers.
If you are interested please complete this form by 29th April 2016. For more information, view flyer.
Date:
8 June at Automechanika Birmingham 2016 (day two of a three day show)
Venue:
NEC, Birmingham.
