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Olympic Contracts

[Replies: 4]
Olympic Contracts

With an estimated 7,000 supplier contracts worth £6 billion up for grabs, the London Olympic Games in 2012 represent a tremendous opportunity for UK businesses. Emma Allen finds out how small firms can get involved

The Olympic Games in London in 2012 will be a massive operation: there will be dozens of sporting venues to build, thousands of athletes and officials to accommodate; hundreds of thousands of supporters to transport and cater for; merchandise to manufacture and sell; security; cleaning; promotional campaigns…the list goes on.

Contracts for Olympics-related work are being awarded largely by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), and not all of them to large companies. Of the 650 firms which have already won £2 billion of contracts, nearly three-quarters are small and medium-sized businesses.

“We’ve got about 2,000 contracts available, and there is huge scope for a very wide range of skills at all levels of the supply chain,” says Morag Stuart, the ODA’s head of procurement. “Contracts vary from the really significant in size, such as staging in the main stadium, to smaller contracts for design and printing services, audio equipment and catering.

Finding contracts and support

According to Stuart, the best place to start searching is the CompeteFor website, launched earlier this year as a ‘one-stop shop’ for all direct contract opportunities generated by both the ODA and LOCOG.

Once you have registered basic information, you will be able to view details of available contracts, a list of companies that have been awarded contracts so far and information about future opportunities. Companies interested in specific opportunities can also register for e-alerts.

The website also contains support for firms wanting to get involved but not sure how to start. Online supplier guides are available to help steer businesses through the bidding process, and companies registering online are automatically directed to their local Business Link for guidance.

Linking up

One of the most productive ways for small firms to get work on large contracts is through joint bids or as a sub-contractor. Crucially, CompeteFor is also being used to link businesses up with each other.

“It’s similar to a business ‘dating agency’,” Stuart explains. “The site aims to match companies to opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors. Firms who have won contracts are being encouraged to advertise opportunities for other companies at every level of the supply chain.

“Businesses wanting to bid but requiring specialist expertise or skills can also advertise for partners online to go through a joint bid process,” she adds.

On the road

“It’s not all about being in London,” Stuart stresses. “Half the contracts so far have gone to companies outside the capital. The further down the supply chain you go, the more likely you are to see firms based all over the country.”

The ODA is also running a series of regional roadshows around the UK over the next twelve months, which will offer networking sessions and information seminars for businesses.

Find Olympic contract opportunities at the CompeteFor website
For an overview of Olympic business opportunities, visit the business network section of the London 2012 website
Last Post 12-Oct-2008 11:55 by: ModeratorSG
ModeratorSG
 
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Re: Olympic Contracts

12-Oct-2008 11:55
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The Olympics are not that far off. Will your business be involved in any Olympic related activities? Do you see any increase in sales or new sales opportunities arising during the Games?


ModeratorSG
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Re: Olympic Contracts

09-Oct-2008 20:30
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Taxpayers may have to fund the full cost of the £1billion Olympic village as the credit crunch scares off private investors for the 2012 Games, Olympic chiefs have admitted.

Taxpayers face £1bn Olympic village bill
ModeratorMK
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Re: Olympic Contracts

28-Aug-2008 11:30
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Hopefully in the intervening 4 years some changes will be seen as London ramps up for the Olympics and more new services are seen to be in need of coverage. Keeping the business 'home' will benefit the venues as well as local business.
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Re: Olympic Contracts

27-Aug-2008 17:38
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Only 10 per cent of SMEs expect to benefit from 2012 Olympics

Britain might be picking up gold in the Bejiing Olympics, but UK small businesses are sceptical about the benefits that London 2012 will bring them, according to entrepreneur think tank the Tenon Forum, .

Research from the Tenon Forum revealed that only 10 per cent of UK small-business owners believe London 2012 will help their business, 71 per cent believe the event will have no impact on them at all, and 15 per cent believe it could even have a negative effect.

According to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the public body responsible for developing and building new venues and infrastructure for the Games, SMEs have won seven in ten of the Olympic contracts for 2012 to date.

Tenon director of businesses services Michaela Johns said small firms need to start thinking more positively about the 2012 Olympics if they are to make the most of the opportunities it offers them.

"The 2012 Olympic Games have the potential to generate a huge amount of revenue for the UK's businesses and not just for the obvious targets, such as leisure, tourism and hospitality, so we would urge entrepreneurs to start thinking creatively now about the potential for their businesses," she said.

"Entrepreneurs should remain open to ideas and seek out more unusual business leads for their company to take advantage of any potential opportunities that may arise in the run up," added Johns

The Tenon research also highlighted that just ten per cent of London-based small firms are looking for opportunities connected to the Games, two-thirds of northern firms view the Games as a London event only.

Responding to the results of the Tenon survey, the ODA stressed that UK firms are already benefiting from the trickle-down effects of the London Olympics.

"Of the 650 businesses that have already won more than £2 billion worth of work supplying the ODA, more than 70 per cent are SMEs and just under half are based outside of London," said ODA spokesman Ben Hurley.

"In addition, of the companies registered on CompeteFor, the business 'dating agency' that matches firms to 2012 contract opportunities, more than three-quarters are small businesses with fewer than 50 staff," he said.

Commenting on the number of small firms that have pitched for Olympic contracts, ODA chairman John Armitt said: "Smaller businesses are making the running and getting the biggest benefit so far, as well as getting themselves in pole position to compete for future work in the supply chains of our major contractors. It is a challenging project and we're working with the best of British business to keep well on track to deliver a great Olympic and Paralympic Games and a lasting legacy."

For more information on how small firms across the UK can get involved in the Olympics, visit the London 2012 website
To register interest in securing contracts for the 2012 Olympics, visit the CompeteFor website
ModeratorTA
 
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Olympic Contracts

08-Aug-2008 20:49
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Olympic Contracts

With an estimated 7,000 supplier contracts worth £6 billion up for grabs, the London Olympic Games in 2012 represent a tremendous opportunity for UK businesses. Emma Allen finds out how small firms can get involved

The Olympic Games in London in 2012 will be a massive operation: there will be dozens of sporting venues to build, thousands of athletes and officials to accommodate; hundreds of thousands of supporters to transport and cater for; merchandise to manufacture and sell; security; cleaning; promotional campaigns…the list goes on.

Contracts for Olympics-related work are being awarded largely by the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), and not all of them to large companies. Of the 650 firms which have already won £2 billion of contracts, nearly three-quarters are small and medium-sized businesses.

“We’ve got about 2,000 contracts available, and there is huge scope for a very wide range of skills at all levels of the supply chain,” says Morag Stuart, the ODA’s head of procurement. “Contracts vary from the really significant in size, such as staging in the main stadium, to smaller contracts for design and printing services, audio equipment and catering.

Finding contracts and support

According to Stuart, the best place to start searching is the CompeteFor website, launched earlier this year as a ‘one-stop shop’ for all direct contract opportunities generated by both the ODA and LOCOG.

Once you have registered basic information, you will be able to view details of available contracts, a list of companies that have been awarded contracts so far and information about future opportunities. Companies interested in specific opportunities can also register for e-alerts.

The website also contains support for firms wanting to get involved but not sure how to start. Online supplier guides are available to help steer businesses through the bidding process, and companies registering online are automatically directed to their local Business Link for guidance.

Linking up

One of the most productive ways for small firms to get work on large contracts is through joint bids or as a sub-contractor. Crucially, CompeteFor is also being used to link businesses up with each other.

“It’s similar to a business ‘dating agency’,” Stuart explains. “The site aims to match companies to opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors. Firms who have won contracts are being encouraged to advertise opportunities for other companies at every level of the supply chain.

“Businesses wanting to bid but requiring specialist expertise or skills can also advertise for partners online to go through a joint bid process,” she adds.

On the road

“It’s not all about being in London,” Stuart stresses. “Half the contracts so far have gone to companies outside the capital. The further down the supply chain you go, the more likely you are to see firms based all over the country.”

The ODA is also running a series of regional roadshows around the UK over the next twelve months, which will offer networking sessions and information seminars for businesses.

Find Olympic contract opportunities at the CompeteFor website
For an overview of Olympic business opportunities, visit the business network section of the London 2012 website