CASE STUDY: FINDITINBIRMINGHAM'S SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK
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Background and Objectives
FindItInBirmingham’s collaboration with UK Construction Week (UKCW) wasn’t driven by immediate challenges but instead was seen as an opportunity to enhance their reach and engagement. By partnering with UK Construction Week, FindItInBirmingham aimed to provide their network with access to a highly relevant industry event, further expanding their visibility and networking opportunities.
Why UK Construction Week Birmingham?
FindItInBirmingham has a history of supporting UK Construction Week Birmingham through bespoke events. The decision to collaborate again was based on their proven mutual success and the trust established with local businesses. With a strong network and an established brand in the West Midlands, FindItInBirmingham was confident that UKCW Birmingham would offer the ideal platform for further engagement and visibility.
The Meet the Buyers initiative
The Meet the Buyer initiative, was designed to provide direct access to key decision-makers, offering suppliers the chance to connect with organisations that already have established supply chains. The event’s goals have always been to champion local businesses, emphasising social value and net-zero commitments while creating opportunities for growth.
Results and impact
The collaboration with UK Construction Week Birmingham yielded impressive results. Over the three days of the event, FindItInBirmingham facilitated more than 400 one-on-one sessions between buyers and suppliers. With over 20 buyers present, the initiative proved highly successful in expanding FindItInBirmingham’s network, with around a third of attendees being new businesses not previously engaged with the platform.
The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the quality of buyers in the lounge and the efficiency of the one-to-one meetings. Buyers praised the organisation of the event and the thoroughness with which suppliers were pre-qualified. The reputation of FindItInBirmingham’s events, built on years of trust and successful relationships with local authorities and public sector organisations, ensured a smooth and productive experience for all involved.
Reflections and improvements
While the event was a success, the team at FindItInBirmingham acknowledged that there are areas for improvement. The reactive nature of managing last-minute meeting requests at UKCW didn’t align with their typical approach, where meetings are pre-booked and suppliers are pre-qualified. Moving forward, they hope to refine this process for future collaborations with UKCW.
Despite these challenges, the collaboration was seen as a success, particularly with the high volume of businesses attending specifically for the opportunity to participate in the Meet the Buyer initiative.
Positive testimonials
“Demand for our business events has really accelerated over the last 12 months as more companies across a range of sectors recognise the commercial and social value of developing local supply chains. The collaboration with UKCW Birmingham was part of our ongoing development of our events offering, ensuring we’ll have a calendar of events taking place across the entire Finditin Network. As per our previous collaborations, it proved to be a great success and we hope to be able to collaborate on new initiatives in the future.” — Paul Long, Director, Finditin
Dawn Jevons, Galliford Try (Buyer):
“I would like to express my support for FinditinBirmingham and its pivotal role during UK Construction Week. The event highlighted our commitment to fostering connections within the construction industry and promoting local businesses. The networking opportunities provided were invaluable, allowing companies to engage directly with us as potential partners and clients. Many local businesses reported the ease of access to us and our projects as a result of their participation. Moreover, the emphasis on social value was particularly impactful. By engaging with so many local firms, we have managed to find like-minded companies and also showcased the importance of sustainable practices in construction. The insights gained and relationships formed at this event have the potential to drive positive change in our industry.”
David East, Orapi Applied Ltd (Supplier):
“I have worked with several ‘Business Support’ entities over the years, from local funded groups to CoC and the DiT, and I have to say, I have been very impressed with the ‘Finditin’ business network team. Having attended a number of events over the last 12 months, they are well-organised, well-attended, and most importantly ‘relevant to my business’, giving us the opportunity to speak with the RIGHT audience for our product range.”
UK Construction Week is excited to celebrate its 10-year milestone by launching an exclusive business networking event in London, building on the success of the Meet the Buyers debut in Birmingham’s NEC.
Stay in the loop—registration for the 2025 event is now open!
For details and to secure your ticket, visit UK Construction Week here.
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