London 2012: Opportunities for local business
A new business network has been launched in the North West in a bid to help local companies capitalise on £6bn worth of opportunities flowing from the London 2012 Olympics.
The Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell and Seb Coe, chairman of the organising committee, have pledged to open up supply chain opportunities to small and medium enterprises throughout the UK to counter criticism that the Games will only benefit London companies.
There is a wide range of business to be won ranging from construction work to provision of table tennis balls and gym equipment; from temporary tents to mattresses in the Olympic village and from staff uniforms to Games merchandise.
Local businesses are being urged to “get fit” for the Olympic procurement process by taking advantage of various initiatives that are now in place.
These include:
- Visiting the London 2012 Business Network website – www.london2012.com/business - for information on business opportunities, publications and procurement processes.
- Publishing your business profile and searching for business opportunities on CompeteFor – the new, electronic brokerage service created to give businesses unique access to procurement opportunities by bringing together contractors and potential suppliers (again, available by visiting www.london2012.com/business)
- Contacting Business Link Northwest for help in preparing your business to compete more effectively for a slice of the Olympic project. Telephone: 0845-0066888. E-mail: games@businesslinknw.co.uk. Website: www.businesslink.gov.uk/northwest
- Visiting the North West Development Agency website for information on London 2012-related activities in the North West and to sign up to a bi-monthly e-newsletter service (www.nwda.co.uk/areas-of-work/quality-of-life/major-events/london-2012.aspx)
- Watching out for a national programme of business-focused events that will be staged over the next 12-18 months
Organisers say there are also specific opportunities for the North West tourism industry in terms of putting together bespoke packages for some of the 500,000 overseas visitors who are expected to come into Britain for the 2012 Olympics.