Meet the Buyer: Connecting small business to large buyers in Cairns

Celebrating Queensland Small Business Month - May 2024

Cairns Regional Council and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training have partnered to provide the opportunity for small and family-owned businesses to pitch their goods and services to large, tier-one public and private sector buyers.

By attending the event you will be able to:

• Identify tender opportunities
• Understand local procurement needs
• Increase your business exposure
• Grow your network
• Secure new contracts

You will be given the opportunity to ‘pitch’ your small business to the Buyer and promote your goods and services for alignment with their business.

Buyers will use this opportunity to provide you with updates on upcoming projects, their unique procurement needs and how best to work with them.

Tip: 3:30pm arrival with networking in the Business Expo for a 4pm start, finishing at approximately 6:30pm

Our buyers

Limited spots are available to register for the chance to connect one-on-one with large buyers from the public and private sector, including:

1. Austal Australia
2. BESIX Watpac
3. Bidfood
4. Cairns Convention Centre
5. Cairns Regional Council - Capital Project Delivery
6. Cairns Regional Council - Facilities & Fleet
7. Cairns Regional Council - Water & Works Services
8. Hansen Yuncken
9. Industry Capability Network
10. James Cook University
11. John Holland
12. MiHaven
13. QBuild - Department of Energy & Public Works

Over $760 million worth of the region’s largest construction projects will be represented including the Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre, HMAS Cairns upgrades, Cairns Hospital Expansion and Cairns Water Security Stage 1 Project.

What type of small businesses are our Buyers looking for?

All small businesses (employing 20 people or less) are invited to attend, particularly those who:

• Can support the construction phase of the above projects from safety equipment and signage solutions to general sub-contractors and traffic control;
• Provide disability products (or services) or mobilty solutions;
• Offer a shipbuilding or marine product or service;
• Own or represent product that would be provided at events or serviced sites such as hospitals, mine sites, defence bases, islands, aged care, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Businesses registered to attend the event will be invited to preference their appointments with Buyers prior to the event.

Our expo stall holders

Networking opportunities will take place in the Business Expo, with a range of industry support services, organisations and programs represented.

Important information:

• Small and family businesses employing no more than 20 people only are invited to register for this free event, tickets are limited.
• You will only receive 1 x appointment schedule per small business, regardless of the number of representatives who register to attend
• Please RSVP by Friday 26 April 2024
• Due to demand, each small business will receive an average of 3-5 appointments only.
• Your appointment schedule will be provided to you upon arrival at the event.
• By registering to attend Meet the Buyer 2024, event organisers are assuming that you give consent to be photographed and filmed at the event and for those photos and videos to be used in marketing and promotion of the event in the future. Please notify event organisers at the registration desk upon arrival, if you do not wish to be photographed.