National Buying Group Raises Over £9,000 at Annual Conference

PARTNERS, suppliers and guests attended the National Buying Group’s (NBG) annual conference in Liverpool in for two days of networking, discovering new products as well as fundraising to support local organisations.

Over £9,000 was raised at the event that took place in November, with proceeds split between local Liverpool institutions, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and The Rainy Day Trust, a charity dedicated to helping the building industry.

Alder Hey treats over 275,000 children every year, including the son of John Connett, National Account Manager at NBG supplier, Faithfull Tools. He said, “As a family we already do a lot of fundraising for Alder Hey, but for NBG to support the charity during their conference was such a generous offer.

“You don’t realise how remarkable the NHS and this charity is until you need their support yourselves. Alder Hey have already done so much for Lewis, we are so grateful to both them and NBG.”

NGB Raises Over £9,000

Fundraising activities included sports matches and a silent auction as well as an agreement that NBG and suppliers would donate a percentage of each sale made to the fundraising total.

To kick-off proceedings, partners and suppliers came head-to-head in a charity football match, with the suppliers taking the title after a 4-1 victory. Day two of the conference saw the launch of a new initiative with NBG adding £5 to the pot for every £10,000 of orders placed and suppliers pledging to match-fund.

The conference culminated with a Gala Dinner celebration at which suppliers were recognised in the annual award ceremony and guests bid for some impressive prizes in the silent auction.

The experiences, donated by partners and suppliers, included a bespoke team training session with Team GB cyclist, Dan Bigham at Derby Velodrome and a five-course dinner for four at Gordon Ramsay’s Heddon Street Kitchen after it appeared in the Michelin Guide for 2019.

Raising Awareness

Hayley Thomas, Acting Head of Corporate Fundraising at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, said, “We are truly grateful for the opportunity to not just raise funds for Alder Hey at the NBG conference but also raise awareness of the charity on a national level. It’s thanks to organisations like NBG that we can continue to fund activities and projects that enhance and improve the experience of these patients and their families.”

Bryan Clover, Chief Executive at The Rainy Day Trust, the second charity receiving an equal share of the fundraising total, said, “It’s fantastic to have the continued support from organisations like NBG and the opportunity to raise awareness of The Rainy Day Trust and to get in front of partners that may, one day, need our support at the conference, we’re extremely grateful.”

Planning is underway for next year’s conference after an announcement from NBG revealed the event is moving to Glasgow, taking place on 19-20 November 2019.

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