Airport ‘Meet the Buyers’ event generates nearly 1,000 meetings for local businesses

Attendees from 150 small and medium sized businesses from across Greater Manchester and Cheshire were in attendance at a Meet the Buyers event to connect with businesses based at Manchester Airport.

The annual event took place on 13th March at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park, and saw introductions made and deals struck between local suppliers and major employers at the hub such as Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Holiday Inn & ibis budget, Bethell, Arup, and AmcoGiffen.

A range of workshops and presentations also ran throughout the day parallel to proceedings in the Runway Visitor Park’s main hangar where almost 1,000 face to face appointments took place throughout the day.

Martin Churley, Group Head of Environment & Sustainability at MAG, talked to delegates about Manchester Airport’s efforts to reduce its environmental impacts and the opportunities this presents for small and medium sized local businesses to secure contracts. Mike Cunliffe, Work & Skills Lead at Manchester City Council, fronted a workshop on how businesses can deliver social value. And in the afternoon, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce explained the services it offers to members and the benefits of joining, as well as offering insights into the regional business landscape.

Last year’s event at the same venue saw more than £6 million in deals struck and organisers are hopeful of a similar windfall for SMEs in the North this year.

Pete Lederer, Chief Operating Officer at Manchester Airport, said of the event:

“We are proud to connect the North – and that doesn’t just mean by linking people up with the places they want to travel to. In this case we’ve been able to connect local businesses with some of the biggest institutions in our region, and that can only be good for the regional economy. It was great to see so many brilliant and innovative businesses represented.”

Cllr John Hacking, Executive Member for Employment, Skills and Leisure for Manchester City Council, commented:

“This event is more than just a commercial opportunity; it’s a vital platform for fostering community connections and empowering local businesses, including SMEs.

“By facilitating meaningful interactions between Manchester-based businesses and a diverse range of suppliers, the event helps to strengthen the local economy and promote inclusive growth.”