‘Meet the buyer’ event

Buyers from public bodies all over Tayside will gather in Dundee next week to meet businesses keen to bid for work.

The free Meet the Buyer event will give potential new suppliers the opportunity to talk informally about upcoming contracts, find out about tendering and the criteria for buying goods and services.

A wide range of goods and services are bought in by public bodies including personal care, building works, transport and catering.

Lynne Short, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “We know that the procurement process can sometimes seem confusing so the aim of the event is to try to help local businesses be ready to bid for work from councils, health boards, universities and other public bodies when it comes up.

“Businesses can just turn up without the need to register and meet the people involved in public sector procurement so that they can offer their help and guidance and we can get more local companies involved.

“Buyers are keen to meet potential suppliers to chat about upcoming contracts, how they go about tendering and what they look for when buying goods and services for their organisations.”

Staff from organisations including Angus, Dundee City, Fife and Perth and Kinross councils, NHS Tayside, colleges and universities will be at the Invercarse Hotel on Tuesday from 10am to 2pm.

Also at the event will be representatives of private sector businesses Robertson Construction and Hadden Group who have extensive experience of public sector contracts.

As well as informal discussions, which do not require to be booked, there will also be short information sessions delivered throughout the day covering issues including support with the procurement process and understanding the Public Contracts Scotland website. Perth has come second to Edinburgh in a report which considers the value of firms in Scottish towns and cities.

The report by UK business intelligence firm Creditsafe found that Perth firms’ average net worth of £3.6 million was higher than Aberdeen (£2.7m), Glasgow (£1.3m) and Dundee (£682,000).

Edinburgh firms topped the list, which is based on Companies House data, with an average net worth of £19.8m.

Creditsafe chief executive Chris Robertson said: “While there is plenty of talk around Edinburgh being the business centre of Scotland, it’s clear that other Scottish regions have plenty to offer to the national economy.

“With Brexit negotiations still ongoing, businesses want to ensure their investments are sound and Perth certainly punches above its weight in this regard. The city’s exceptionally positive financial performances must be celebrated.”