‘Biggest and best’ business fair
HUNDREDS of companies looked to have secured deals at the nebusiness-backed North East Regional Business Fair, which closed yesterday after seeing more than 2,000 visitors in two days.
The biggest crowds were at the Meet the Buyer event, where procurement teams from more than 140 UK companies linked up with hundreds more firms from the region. The fair at Newcastle Racecourse and Conference Centre also drew hundreds to hear an economic outlook discussion hosted by David Buffham of the Bank of England’s North-east team.
Business Link chief executive Alastair MacColl said: “This was quite simply the biggest and best of its kind ever held in this region.
“The feedback has been really positive and, if the number of businesses attending this event is a barometer of business activity, then it’s a great reminder that we are a region packed with great businesses, producing great products and delivering great services.”
Ruth Connor, marketing manager for Hurworth- based Country Valley Foods, which owns the Newbould’s butchers chain on Teesside, said the event had brought the meat processor face to face with some of the country’s biggest food service buyers, including Compass Group.
Paul Butler, customer services manager for the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) said he expected to be signing up 15-20 new members as a result of meetings.
“There’s an awful lot of interest in the process sector in general at the moment and that was reflected at the fair.”
He said he was impressed by the scale and quality of the event.
“I’ve attended numerous business events and they pale in comparison to this.”
