West Midland automotive suppliers are being urged meet buyers face to face at a special event in September - or risk losing business to rivals.

Manufacturers such as Bentley, Nissan and Lotus and many other automotive industry companies have signed up for a Meet The Buyer day at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, on September 6.

The event is being organised by Accelerate, the Birmingham-based supply chain organisation, and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

They say buyers will be looking for new suppliers of all products and services connected with the automotive industry and those attending will have the chance of individual one-to-one meetings with them.

Anita White, special projects co-ordinator of the business development group at the chamber, said: "There is room on the day for any number of suppliers, and, as this event is being held in the West Midlands, it is a major opportunity for the region's automotive industry suppliers to forge new links with the big players in the sector and to pick up new business for their companies.

"If West Midland companies are not in evidence at such events, there is no doubt the contracts will go elsewhere in the UK - and that means the region's automotive manufacturers will miss out."