AFTER A successful first event in 2017 Hampshire Meet the Buyers (HMTB) returns to the Marriott Hotel, Portsmouth next week.

The aim of Tuesday's event is help forge links in the supply chain between big corporates and small start-ups.

The hybrid expo-cum-conference will see council leader Donna Jones give a key note speech, other guests include Uber who will speak on transport and autonomous vehicles. Corporate companies attending include Novatech and Comserv.

This year’s buyers are looking to promote active projects to local businesses, particularly within the property and construction, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), power, manufacturing, facilities and M&E sectors as well as goods or services providers including waste removal, building supplies, cleaning companies and other consultants.

Attendees can speak direct to corporate company buyers as well as network with other businesses. A dedicated app is available to ticket holders which enables them to arrange specific meetings before and during the event as well as network and connect with potential new customers and leads.

Last year Fareham-based TJ Waste & Recycling won an open rolling contract worth in excess of £300,000 a year, from construction, refurbishment and facilities management specialist Mountjoy. While Mountjoy was not seeking a new waste contract supplier, TJ Waste’s sales manager Simon Dunsford was able to highlight how it would could save money and improve compliancy.

Event organiser Becky Lodge of business support company Little Kanga, said the Hampshire wide event was aimed at promoting the county's own commercial resources.

"We are not very good at keeping money in Hampshire it keeps bleeding out of the area," said Becky.

"Big corporates have contracts to award, start-ups need contracts from SMEs and SMEs need contracts from those big corporates. When you put them together you see the true value of partnerships and collaborations.”

Sponsored and supported by the University of Portsmouth (UoP) and Portsmouth City Council (PCC), the event runs from 10am to 4pm. To find out more hampshiremtb.co.uk