REPRESENTATIVES of small and medium sized firms from Salisbury and the surrounding area got the chance to meet the decision makers of ten big organisations when they took part in a Meet the Buyer event.

Run by Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the all-day event at the end of last month enabled 22 firms to pitch their goods and services to public sector organisations and large private companies.

The buyers comprised ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, ML Electronics, the Ministry of Defence, the NHS, minerals and building company Raymond Brown, Salisbury City and Wiltshire councils, Sunseeker, Wiltshire College and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue.

Pauline Giles and Sharon Cousins, from the procurement team at Salisbury District Hospital, said they had attended a previous event and found it useful.

“We encourage local businesses as well as national ones to work with us,” said Ms Giles.

“In the public sector we have to ensure we are getting value for money, are fair to everyone and are open in all our buying procedures.

“There are opportunities for small firms as well as big ones in areas like maintenance, ground works and stationery.”

Alex Brown and Rodger Hyslop of Wiltshire Fire & Rescue said small firms were often unsure of what they could offer the fire service.

“We are keen to work with local businesses where we can,” said Ms Brown.

“If we can buy locally that’s fantastic – we are always looking for best value in things like cleaning, catering and printing.

“And there are environmental issues to consider: buying closer to home rather than from a long way away reduces our carbon footprint.”

For ABF The Soldiers’ Charity the event presented an opportunity to get to know businesses.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Miller said: “These organisations can do something to help us and we can help them – after all, soldiers are a significant part of the community.”

Among those pitching were photographers Trinity Photography and John Rose Photography.

John Rose produced bespoke presentation material for each buyer and Fiona McWilliam of Trinity said the event was an opportunity to “speak to people we would not get a chance to pitch to”.

Hadyn Ingram of Pear Tree Serviced Apartments said that for some, ten minutes could prove insufficient, particularly if a new concept was being pitched.

But Mark Bramley, sales and marketing manager of the Red Lion Hotel, said: “I had a brilliant day.

“I saw all ten, of whom seven are success stories, two are Christmas parties and one I have passed to a colleague nearer to where the buyer operates.”

He said “no-one had time to see a hotel sales person when they came knocking”, but at Meet the Buyer he had been able to get business from a buyer who thought the hotel would be too expensive, saving them money at the same time.

“And for key corporate clients I was able to thank them for their loyalty,” he said. “I would like Meet the Buyer twice a year.”

Chamber executive officer Rachel Finlay said the chamber had had good feedback.

“This is the third one we have done and we will do it again,” she said.