Govt depts open up to SMEs at new mingle-fest

BUSINESSDESK: Small- and medium-sized businesses have flocked to an inaugural Meet the Buyer expo in Wellington to offer their wares to big government buyers they would normally struggle to meet.

Christine Bear, managing director at strategic IT company CBA was among the 400-odd businesses pitching their products and services to 15 government agencies, alongside a mini-expo housing a range of organisations designed to support SMEs or work alongside the government.

"The current tendering process doesn't really recognise that New Zealand's middle-sized businesses have a great deal to offer. They are often overlooked for larger organisations," Ms Bear said.

"Small- and medium-sized business are the backbone of the economy.

"They support all the country's workers so the opportunity to engage with the government is critical for our survival."

The proof of the new expo-style concept would be when changes to the tendering process created an even playing field for all businesses, Ms Bear said.

Run jointly by Business New Zealand and the Ministry of Economic Development, Meet the Buyer offered SMEs the chance to promote their products to government buyers while networking with their peers.

The Wellington-based event is the first of its kind.

"We have got meetings, mini-expos and speed presentations,"  event manager Paul Rayner said.

"This is a pilot and in nine to 12 months we want to go to the businesses and agencies here and ask: 'did you get any new business?'

"Overseas events like this have business-to-business get-togethers but here it is happening organically," Mr Rayner said.

"We are seeing business-to-business mingling, which is a byproduct of the whole event."

Half of the SMEs that attended were from outside of Wellington and about 40% met with more than one agency.

The information technology sector was the most popular sector, accounting for 30% of attendees.

Wellington-based business improvement consultancy Aitch met with three agencies, including the New Zealand Police, the Accident Compensation Corporation and New Zealand Post.

"We needed to be here. The agencies had a need for what we delivered, they just didn't know about us yet," director Don Smith said.

"We may not get any contracts now but it is all about relationship building."

He said the day wasn't just about forming government relationships but about interacting with other SMEs.

"We meet with four or five different people, while connecting businesses who we thought should talk - that's a positive spin-off.

"There is a strong networking vibe going on outside of the room."

Meet the Buyer is looking to become a regular event, with days held also in Auckland and Christchurch.