Pictured above: From left are the buyers, Mike Martin of Jaguar Land Rover; Tony Dunning of Birmingham Airport; head chef, Glyn Purnell, Jackie Hill of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; and Mark Allwood of the NEC Group

Nearly 200 businesses flooded the new management centre at Solihull College on 11 May, many with appointments to meet the buyers of four major companies in the borough.

Birmingham Airport, Jaguar Land Rover, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and the NEC Group sent their buyers to meet Solihull companies which attended the event organised by Solihull Chamber of Commerce.

Tony Dunning, Purchasing Manager at Birmingham Airport said rather unusually there was a wide range of companies to meet.

Tom Arscott of Tasty Pastry Products, a small company which makes Caribbean pattys using spices and flaky pastry said the meet the buyers event was really good to see the right person. He said: "With these major companies we need to talk to the sub-contractors. The event was fantastic because we were able to get the names of the right people."

Nina Bawden, Sales engineer with SPIE Matthew Hall which provides facilities services to companies said she didn't realise how intense it would be. She said: "I am actually buzzing, it was brilliant and we now have a follow up meeting with Birmingham Airport."

Jane Jackson, Director of Solihull Chamber of Commerce said the event gave each company the opportunity to promote their services or products to the buyer of major firms where a sales phone call would have got lost. They are so large that it is difficult to know who to contact and selling to these companies can be a minefield."

The Solihull Showcase exhibition was held at Solihull College's new management centre which was officially opened by former apprentice of the college and head chef Glyn Purnell.