Region's finest producers and suppliers unite at 'Meet the Supplier' event

23rd January 2019

Categories: Latest News

The best of the Peak District & Derbyshire’s food and drink producers, accommodation providers, retailers and attractions are to come together at a major networking event for the region.

Hosted by the official tourist board Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and part of a £ 1.4 million programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to grow and develop the region’s visitor economy, the Meet the Supplier Event is being hosted at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton on Tuesday 5^th February, from 10:00-16:00.

Entirely free to local, qualifying businesses,¹ the event will include the opportunity to meet in person a variety of the region’s best suppliers, listen to experienced speakers including David Thornton from The Heights of Abraham, Richard Taylor from Owen Taylor & Sons, Rob Evans from Peak Ales and Chris Mapp from the Tickled Trout; plus enjoy a networking lunch.

Claire Barnes, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s Project Officer in charge of the event, says: “This is going to be a great opportunity for businesses to get face to face with fellow suppliers and discuss how they can work together more. We want to encourage better direct links between our region’s fantastic suppliers and buyers, which will help us to continue to boost this very special part of the country”.

Local business owner Debra Evans of Peak Ales, comments: “Being a member of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is invaluable in many ways. There are always new opportunities if you want to get involved and there are regular opportunities to network – like this forthcoming event - with like-minded businesses who want to see the continued success of the Peak District. We’re looking forward to another year working closely with the team”.

This event is one of many projects being funded by the ERDF’s "Growing & Developing the Visitor Economy sector" programme, led by Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and supported by Derbyshire County Council, Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council, and High Peak Borough Council.

The three year programme, which culminates at the end of March, has so far achieved over 6800 hours of support to local businesses in the visitor economy sector.

With limited places available, businesses are asked to book places for the Meet the Supplier Event via:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-supplier-buxton-tickets-53591849665

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For media enquiries please contact Amy Noton at Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire, on 01246 212924 or email: amy.noton@marketingpdd.com

Note to Editors

¹To qualify for this free event, businesses must be:

• A visitor economy business (accommodation, attraction, activity provider, food and drink provider etc)
• Based in Derbyshire (and their supply chain)
• Be an SME (less than 250 FTE employees, have a balance sheet of less than €43m and/or turnover of less than €50m and not be more than 25% owned by another business that is not an SME

To find out more about the business support workshops or becoming a member of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, please call 01246 212924.

About Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire’s mission is to develop and grow a successful and sustainable tourism economy, working closely with a wide range of partners to make the Peak District and Derbyshire the destination of choice – regionally, nationally and globally.

About ERDF funding

This approved business support programme is receiving up to £1.49 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.  The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.  Established by the European Union, European Regional Development Fund funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.  For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding