Meet the Buyers offers a unique opportunity for UK companies to present their products and services to security buyers from a diverse range of countries during a series of one-to-one introductory meetings.
Organised by the BSIA in partnership with UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) and International Trade Promotion Centre and hosted at IFSEC, the Meet the Buyers 'speed-networking' event has introduced UK businesses to over 1,200 overseas buyers in the four years it has been running, which has resulted in almost £10 million worth of predicted sales.
Past events have seen delegations of key buyers and decision makers attend from countries such as Bulgaria, South Africa, Singapore, Syria, Nigeria, Sweden and Turkey, all looking to place significant orders with British security companies. Successes are frequent and following meetings at Meet the Buyers 2009, one BSIA member secured an exclusive distribution agreement with a leading security systems distributor in Singapore while another secured a £50,000 order with the International Security and Communications Company.
Each year Meet the Buyers continues to increase in popularity with more and more countries recognising its benefits and opting to take part.
Video testimonials from Meet the Buyers 2012:
Meet the Buyers 2011 feedback:
Overseas Company
Jumade Adejola - Survaillant Fire Limited, Nigeria
“This is the second year I have attended the Meet the Buyers event and in both occasions I have found it extremely beneficial to our company. My organisation has been dealing with UK companies for a number of years now, but being able to attend and be associated with Meet the Buyers puts us ahead of our competitors, as it proves we are serious about forging lasting links with UK businesses. We have seen a significant boost in sales last year following the event, and our relationships with UK companies have never been better, as being able to meet people face to face always allows for greater networking success. What’s more, we know that the companies attending this event are serious and reliable organisations."
Commercial Officer
Bernardette Terry - Trade Officer at the British High Commission, Canada
"I have been attending this event since 2007, and find it mutually beneficial for both Canadian and UK companies. It is particularly useful in making UK companies view Canada as a viable route to the North American market, and is a great way to showcase UK technology and expertise. What’s more the event is very well organised so I am never worried about recommending it or inviting people to attend as I know they will be treated very well.”
UK Company
Wilf Butcher - Chief Executive Officer at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection
"Meet the Buyers provides a unique opportunity to meet face to face with a number of commercial officers from across the world, all at the same time. All the commercial officers are well briefed, and the meetings allow me to then go back and provide advice to companies within my industry as to who they should be speaking to. I think the whole experience is further enhanced if companies are also exhibiting at the show, as it enables them to set up follow up meetings at their stand, where the potential business contact can experience first hand what the company has to offer. There is a real potential for companies to establish important business relationships as a result of this event, as long as attendees are well prepared and ready to seize the opportunities as they arise."
For more information about Meet the Buyers, email Caroline Strickley, BSIA Export Services Executive, by clicking here.
