05 June 2008
Northwest companies winning London 2012 business benefits
Twenty Northwest companies and organisations have already won
work supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), 11 of them
small and medium (SMEs) size, and many more have been supplying the
ODA’s contractors.
The latest London 2012 business engagement figures published
today also show that SMEs make up over 85% of the 820 companies
from the Northwest registered on the unique ‘dating agency’ which
aims to match businesses with London 2012 related opportunities.
Over 70 Northwest businesses have been automatically referred
through CompeteFor to the local Business Link for business
improvement support.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising
Committee (LOCOG) expect to allocate over £6bn of work as part of
an estimated 75,000 future business opportunities covering direct
contractors and their supply chains over the coming years.
The ‘London 2012 Business Network’, which can be accessed at
www.london2012.com/business
provides information about London 2012 related business and events
and links to the ‘CompeteFor’ service, a business ‘dating agency’
supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
matches companies to opportunities supplying London 2012
contractors. Up to a fifth of London 2012 supply chain
opportunities are expected to go through the CompeteFor system and
currently SMEs make up 90% of the 18,000 companies registered.
Northwest companies that have been working directly with the ODA
include the TAS Partnership Limited, which has undertaken a
procurement study for the provision of coach and bus transport for
the Olympic family within the Olympic sites. Many more companies
based in the North West have been supplying the ODAs contractors
including Bolton based Watson’s Steel who will manufacture and
fabricate the steel structures for the Olympic Stadium.
ODA Chairman John Armitt said:
“We want to work with the best of businesses in the Northwest,
large and small, to deliver the venues and infrastructure for the
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a lasting legacy. It
is a challenging project and we are on track. Creating a level
playing field to ensure we get the best of business is an important
part of this and companies in the North West are showing an
encouraging appetite to be part of this once in a lifetime
opportunity.”
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is providing
funding of £2 million to support the delivery of the London 2012
Business Network in the Northwest.
Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA, Peter Mearns,
said:
“I am very pleased to see so many businesses in the region
successfully engaging with London 2012 and winning contracts.
“The Northwest has already established an international
reputation for both delivering and supplying major events, not
least the significant expertise generated from the Commonwealth
Games in 2002. London 2012 will enable us to firmly build on this
legacy and ensure our businesses grow even stronger and fitter by
capitalising on the opportunities available.”
How CompeteFor works:
ODA and LOCOG are advertising their direct contract opportunities
online through CompeteFor, which is co-funded by Regional
Development Agencies, and direct London 2012 contractors appointed
will be encouraged to advertise their supply chain opportunities
through the system. For example all contractors that have been
awarded ODA infrastructure or venue contracts are registered as
buyers on CompeteFor.
Companies at every level of the London 2012 supply chain will be
encouraged to advertise their supplier opportunities through
CompeteFor.
After registering basic company information any interested
business can view the opportunities advertised. Companies can then
complete a business profile, which involves answering a series of
simple questions, to be able to compete for opportunities.
A company’s business profile is automatically tested against a
small number of minimum standards in areas such as health and
safety. If these requirements are not met the company is
automatically referred to tailored business support to help improve
their performance. This service is provided by Business Link in
England and the support services in Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland.
Once a company’s profile is successfully published on CompeteFor
they are automatically matched to opportunities which suit their
business and invited, by email, to apply for them by filling out a
short, tailored application form. The buyer advertising the
contract then selects a shortlist of companies and invites them to
formally tender through the buyer’s own procurement system.
Details of the winning bidder(s) are published on CompeteFor and
unsuccessful bidders receive feedback from the buyer. Throughout
the process local business support agencies are on hand to help
companies maximise their chances of success.
Notes to editors:
The NWDA, in conjunction with Business Link Northwest, has begun to
roll out a programme of business events and workshops to help
Northwest business prepare to compete for London 2012 contract
opportunities. For information on this and future events visit
www.businesseventsfor2012.co.uk
• On July 10th, an event will be held to help Northwest
businesses understand sustainability and London 2012. David Stubbs,
Head of Sustainability & Environment for London 2012 will be a
keynote speaker.
• Last month, over 50 Northwest businesses attended an
event to understand how to market their business to London 2012
buyers, using a case study from the World Swimming Championships,
which were recently held in Manchester.
– Ends –
For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery
Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700 or visit the website
at www.london2012.com.
Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog http://blog.london2012.com