01 July 2009
Northwest businesses get set for Olympic opportunities
Northwest businesses were able to see first-hand the business
opportunities available as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games
and Paralympic Games, in a visit to the Olympic Park last week.
Working closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and
Business Link Northwest, the Northwest Regional Development Agency
(NWDA) invited a group of Northwest companies to tour the Park, and
meet with key Tier 1 and 2 contractors. These included Carillion
(Media Centre and Press Centre), Morrison (involved in a number of
infrastructure projects across the Olympic Park), Eton Dorney
(rowing centre) and Buckingham (handball arena).
Here, they gained a valuable insight into the exact nature of the
scale, scope and timing of the contracts that will be procured
‘downstream’ by main contractors. Members of the ODA Supply Chain
Team were also on hand to provide further information on the
procurement schedule and ‘CompeteFor’, the electronic ‘dating
agency’ linking businesses with London 2012 contract
opportunities.
Vanda Murray, NWDA Board member, who attended the tour,
said:
“The infrastructure for London 2012 is one of the largest public
building programmes ever undertaken in Europe so it represents
significant business opportunities for Northwest companies. The
businesses invited on last week’s tour of the Park were carefully
selected to ensure they match, as closely as possible, future
contract opportunities that will be advertised.
“At the Agency, we’re working hard to ensure our businesses are
equipped to compete for a slice of the action, and this is really
paying off with over 4,000 registering their interest to supply The
Games and at least 70 having won related contracts. We want to see
this figure increase and ensure that our businesses can take
advantage of the wide range of opportunities available. In the
current economic climate, this has never been more important.”
The Northwest is already benefiting from London 2012 work (both
directly and indirectly). To date, this includes:
• 4,027 Northwest businesses have registered on
CompeteFor;
• 470 businesses have been referred to Business Link Northwest
to prepare for competing for contracts;
• 391 Northwest companies have been shortlisted for contracts
through CompeteFor;
• At least 70 Northwest businesses have already won
Games-related contracts.
• 17 business events have been hosted to inspire regional
businesses to compete for opportunities arising from London 2012,
attended by over 1,200 businesses.
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Notes to editors
Northwest businesses taking part in the visit included:
CHESHIRE
Cathedra Stone (Middlewich)
Concept Signs & Displays (Crewe)
Edwards Cheshire Co Ltd (Warrington)
GF Holding (Contractors) Ltd (Macclesfield)
Lloyds Decorators (Warrington)
MJ Lighting (Chester)
Secru4u (Macclesfield)
GREATER MANCHESTER
HMG Paints (Collyhurst)
Icopal (Stretford)
Siteco (Stockport)
Spring & Co Ltd (Stockport)
Vita Safety (Eccles)
LANCASHIRE
Roocroft Fencing (Leyland)
Tensar (International) Ltd (Blackburn)
MERSEYSIDE
E&P Painting (South Wirral)
Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (Prescot)
Case studies of Northwest businesses who have won Games-related
contracts are available on request.
For further information please contact Rachel Handford, Senior
Press Officer on 01925 400237 or 07810 528449 or rachel.handford@nwda.co.uk
For further information and to view all press releases visit us
at www.nwda.co.uk/press