Opportunity for Welsh healthcare companies to tap into £850m NHS market

The NHS Meet the Buyer and the NHS Supply Chain are two of the most highly anticipated sessions at this year’s BioWales exhibition and conference which takes place at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre on 4 and 5 March. Delegates will have the chance to hear from senior NHS Wales procurement, financial and clinical leads on NHS procurement and introducing innovative products to the NHS. The latest procurement opportunities will also be highlighted. Commercial buyers and leading representatives from the sector will be available for one-to-one partnering sessions. Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “BioWales is the flagship event for the life sciences sector in Wales and this year’s event is business orientated with a specific focus on the supply chain. The NHS spends hundreds of millions of pounds annually on goods and services offering a potentially massive market for businesses in Wales. BioWales 2015 is geared to help those business maximise the opportunities this presents. “The NHS Meet the Buyer and the NHS Supply Chain sessions will help businesses understand the procurement process, learn how to get their goods and services into the NHS and meet senior procurement officials.” Mark Roscrow - Director of Procurement Services, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) is leading the NHS Meet the Buyer showcase session on the second day of BioWales. Mark and a number of his procurement leads and experts will be available at the conference and at the one-to-one partnering session. Other key speakers include: • Dr Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive of NHS Wales • Stacie Croxton, Customer Service and Marketing Director NHS Supply Chain • Hamish Laing, Medical Director, Director for Technology and Innovation, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and • Alan Brace, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Procurement, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. BioWales 2015 will feature an international line-up of speakers and industry experts who will present on commercial opportunities for growth, NHS / Industry partnership working, clinical trials, regulation of medicine and healthcare products and routes to market offering companies insight and advice on opportunities and barriers. The two day event includes a Dragons’ Den style competition with applicants pitching their innovative ideas to a panel of leading financial investors – chaired by Professor Sir Chris Evans. The winning pitch wins an industry-donated cash prize of up to £3000. which returns to the Millennium Centre on 4 and 5 March 2015 The audience will be drawn from across the sector with representatives from all facets of the life sciences ecosystem and the event will provide excellent opportunities to network with key figures, innovators, investors, companies and academics. Companies can participate in BioWales at a number of levels: as delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, in one to one partnering sessions and can register on line at the website below.

---