Meet the Buyer Event

March 5, 2009

Local businesses looking to boost their sales are being offered a unique opportunity to meet some of the area’s largest buyers thanks to enterpriseGY.

Following the very successful Meet the Buyer event last year, enterpriseGY are working with Norfolk Chamber of Commerce to deliver a second ‘Meet the Buyer’ opportunity, designed to match local buyers with local suppliers - and representatives of both sectors are invited to get involved.

This year’s event, at Great Yarmouth Racecourse on March 5th, takes on a new format - with three different sessions designed to maximise opportunities.

The day begins with a ‘Speed Networking Breakfast’ where suppliers can pitch to a minimum of 30 potential local buyers. They also have the opportunity to access additional local business contacts during the ‘free networking’ part of the event.

Following on from this, the formal Meet the Buyer event takes place where suppliers can pitch for 10 minutes to larger buyers through a scheduled appointment programme. Buyers already attending include Pasta Foods, Norfolk County Council, Perenco UK, AJS/AMEC, Norfolk Constabulary, Petrofac Facilities Management, Windboat Marine and Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Finally, in the afternoon, there will be a special ‘Meet the Construction Buyer’ session, focussing specifically on the construction industry, in conjunction with BuildNorfolk. Potential suppliers can find out what construction contract opportunities are available, make personal contact with the main contractors and decision makers and also learn more about about the support available to help win more work.

Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Caroline Williams says it’s a great opportunity for traders of all types to support the local economy. “Last year we successfully matched up buyers and sellers to the benefit of both. This year the event is even more topical with companies looking to buy locally. We’re looking for both buyers and sellers to get involved as there are great benefits to both sectors. Many local businesses have the potential to fulfil supply chain contracts but they’re missing out for a number of reasons; it may be lack of knowledge, poor sales skills or simply not knowing the right people or processes.”

“From a buyer perspective,” explains Caroline, “the programme can help with sourcing new products and suppliers, keeping up with innovation, networking and ensuring businesses are achieving best value. From a seller perspective, it gives them the chance to hold face-to-face meetings with buyers who are actively looking to place business.”

The March event will be preceded by two workshops for suppliers on 2 February , from 4 - 6pm also at Great Yarmouth Racecourse - one on ‘How to pitch to public sector buyers including Olympic 2012 opportunities’ and the other on ‘How to pitch to private sector buyers.’

enterpriseGY programme manager, Richard Percy, says the Meet the Buyer programme is a showcase for the fantastic pool of business opportunities the region has to offer. “For suppliers, getting a foot in the door of bigger of public sector firms can be hard, especially if a business is new or still developing. This kind of event is about bringing the right people together and encouraging traders to support the local economy - completely in line with enterpriseGY’s ambitions.”

enterpriseGY is a government funded programme designed to transform the economic future of the Great Yarmouth region. Working with a range of partners it focuses on three key areas - business start-ups, business growth and young enterprise, offering access to a wide range of free advice and practical support to encourage local commerce.

Businesses interested in joining the ‘Meet the Buyer’ programme or attending the workshops should contactmailto:katy.barker@norfolkchamber.co.uk or visit http://www.enterprisegy.co.uk/

The main Meet the Buyer events are free, although there is a charge for the ‘Speed Networking Breakfast’ - £15+VAT or £18+VAT for two attendees, with buffet breakfast included.  To book onto the breakfast please go to http://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/ or e-mailevents@norfolkchamber.co.uk

To register for the Construction session please go tohttp://www.buildnorfolk.co.uk/ and click on event or e-mailadmin@buildnorfolk.co.uk giving details of attendee name(s), company and telephone number.

Solar thermal training

March 12, 2009

The course is aimed at those considering the use of solar thermal technologies in their construction projects or those who may be involved at a specification/design stage of hot water and heating systems.

Cost

£245 inc VAT - see site for details of discounts

Location

Milton Keynes

Contact:

Grace Hyson.  Training, Marketing & Administration Assistant.  The National Energy Foundation, Davy Avenue, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes, MK5 8NG.  Tel: 01908 665555   Fax: 01908 665577grace.hyson@nef.org.uk    <http://www.nef.org.uk/>

Website: 

http://www.nef.org.uk/energytraining/solarthermal.htm

The Green Marketing Conference 2009

March 12, 2009

Exercise Kingfisher

March 23, 2009
12:30 am	to	4:00 pm

About the event

Table top exercise based on severe weather event, including weather and flood warnings. Delegates will be asked to look at the impact this will have on their Business Continuity. Guest speakers will provide information on their respective organisations

Who should attend?

The event is directed towards staff that have responsibility for Business Continuity as none would be exempt from the effects of severe weather.

Real advice Workshop: Cleaner by Design

March 24, 2009
12:00 am	to	2:00 pm

About the event

The Event will focus on reducing costs in product development and manufacture by actually reducing wastes. There will be a practical demonstration of eco-design with products analysed in a lively hands-on session. Take full advantage by bringing your own products and packaging along. This is not simply Lean, it’s ‘Cleaner by design’. This highly motivating half day with special guest speakers and interactive process examples will demonstrate novel ways to make your business more competitive and cost effective.

Who should attend?

Businesses looking to optimise production or processes by adopting waste saving techniques, saving the environment and saving money.

Breaking New Ground:”The iHub Exemplar”

March 24, 2009

Sustainable Construction iNet* to host FREE innovation event as part of the East Midlands innovation Festival (iFestival)

When & Where? Tuesday 24th March 2009
Staverton Park, Daventry Road, Staverton, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 6JT

Why Come?

• Sustainable Construction iNet all systems are go: learn about tailored innovation support to help you grow and access to dedicated grants for your business
• Find out about and tour the site of the Sustainable Construction iHub: a multimillion-pound building that will feature offices for up to 60 businesses, exhibition space and community facilities
• Hear from keynote speaker, Michael Pawlyn, one of the leading architects behind the Eden Project and a passionate advocate of sustainable architecture
• Sustainable Construction iNet advisors will be on hand to provide assistance in developing and implementing new products, processes and services
• Dedicated grants are on offer to help your business to become more innovative
• This is a valuable opportunity to network and build new links with key contacts in construction technologies, regional supply chains and the support and funding bodies.

To register or for more detailed information about this event please visit www.bre.co.uk/ifestival or email Gemma Davis at events@construction-inet.org.uk for further queries.

Booking confirmation, venue details and timings will be sent upon registration.

*The Sustainable Construction iNet is a business-led innovation network

Biofuels East Launch Event

March 24, 2009

Fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

Queens’ College, Cambridge, 24 March 2009

An opportunity to examine the performance and sustainability of biofuels, learn about the advanced technologies being developed in the East of England and find out how to access funding for collaborative projects.

We will be launching Biofuels East at Queens’ College on the above date and we would appreciate your help in promoting our Launch Event through the channels available to you.

The event is aimed at academic and industrial researchers working on the development of biofuels as well as those whose activities are impacted by developments in this field.

An amazing selection of experts from academia, industry, government bodies and funding agencies will cover the following topics:

- The sustainability of biofuels and the rationale for advanced generation technologies

- Biodiesel, bio-alcohols, biomethane and jet fuels: developments and challenges faced by the industry

- Cutting edge research in land crops, algae feedstocks, lignocellulosic fuels and waste derived fuels

- Collaboration between academia and industry: challenges, case studies and ways forward

- Funding opportunities for collaborative projects between academia and industry

This free event is being co-hosted by Renewables East, Bioscience for Business and the Natural Environment Research Council. By attending the event delegates will gain a privileged understating of how these partners wish to engage with the biofuels community and how to access the resources of Biofuels East.

To register your interest in attending the Biofuels East Launch Event, contact:
Bianca Forte at Renewables East: biancaforte@renewableseast.org.uk or 01733 294523.

Indicating the way to a low carbon future

March 25, 2009

to

March 26, 2009

Renewables East is please to announce a new partnership conference for 2009 HEON-E (the Home Energy Officer’s Network - Eastern) has staged its annual one-day conference during March for the last 11 years.  After filling venue capacity for the last two years, 2009 sees a new approach with a two day conference run jointly with Renewables East - the renewable energy agency for the East of England

Who should attend?

This two-day conference seeks to highlight the opportunities for public/private sector partnerships, centred on the challenging and vital low carbon agenda, increasingly. Delegates from both public and private sectors

Location

Chilford hall Conference Centre, Linton Cambs CB21 4LE

Further Information

Contact:

Bruce Pittingale, HEON Secretariat, 3 The Bungalos, Caston Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 6TF - tel 05602 391784 - email:  bruce.pittingale@btinternet.com