TWO health trusts are staging a 'meet the buyer' event.

The initiative aims to give locally-based suppliers the chance to learn more about how they could do business with the organisations – Airedale and Bradford District Care NHS foundation trusts.

Supply companies from within a 50-mile radius of Keighley and Bradford are invited to attend the event, at the Education Centre, Airedale Hospital, on April 15, between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Information will be provided about where the trusts currently buy their goods and services, and how businesses can register to be part of the competitive buying process or – in the case of higher-priced contracts – submit a formal tender.

There will also be demonstrations outlining the tendering process, and trust buyers will be on hand to answer questions.

Both trusts say they are keen to work with locally-based suppliers for a range of goods and services, from printed stationery and medical and non-medical consumables to equipment maintenance.

Oliver Golledge, deputy head of procurement at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, added: "We want to increase the amount of business we do with local suppliers – doing so supports the local economy and decreases the trust's carbon footprint.

"We are seeking to work in partnership by encouraging suppliers to register on our online quotation tool and to hopefully explain the tendering process for higher-value contracts.

"From discussions with local suppliers, it has been highlighted that often a lack of clarity around business opportunities and the tendering process may well be stopping them from applying for the trust’s tenders. We’re hoping this event will help change that."

For more details and to register for the event, visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-nhs-buyers-event-tickets-56334383658 or e-mail oliver.golledge@anhst.nhs.uk.