Contractors from East Anglia are being invited to a free event at Newmarket Racecourses in Suffolk on 20 March to find out about work opportunities in the area.

Constructionline is hosting the ‘Meet the Buyer’ session to help small and medium-sized businesses in the county meet key procurement decision makers with local clients and learn about winning work.


Sixteen public sector organisations are already signed up, including Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council and various social housing providers. Prime contractors VINCI Facilities and Bouygues UK are also scheduled to attend, to talk about how they work with smaller suppliers and upcoming construction projects.


Major projects up for discussion include various frameworks with housing construction and maintenance company Lovell Partnerships and the University of East Anglia, which is forecast to invest £108.5 million in construction programmes in the next five years.


As well as the face-to-face meetings, there will be a number of free seminars, delivered by VINCI, Constructionline and partner organisation Supply Chain Sustainability School.


“SME contractors are often well placed to deliver work programmes on their doorsteps, and public sector organisations keen to engage these smaller suppliers, but getting access to each other is no easy task,” said Kevin Nicholson, client relationship manager at Constructionline.


“Events like these are hugely valuable in facilitating an introduction between the two parties, giving them a platform to talk about upcoming opportunities and how they can best work together.”


The event will run from 8:30am until 3pm and suppliers do not have to be a Constructionline member to attend. For more information, go to www.constructionline.co.uk/events.