Make sure your business is registered for Olympics opportunities
Make sure your business is registered for Olympics opportunities—there are still over £1bn of contracts to come to market, and around 74% of contracts have so far gone to SMEs.
How can you bid for an Olympics contract?
You do this through CompeteFor, an online 'business dating' website designed specifically to help businesses around the UK benefit from London 2012. Set up on behalf of England's regional development agencies in January 2008, CompeteFor gives small- and medium-sized businesses the chance to bid for contract opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
What sort of scale are we talking about?
Together with the Olympic authorities and their main contractors, more than 600 buying organisations are now placing opportunities on CompeteFor. Over 100,000 businesses across the UK have registered to take advantage of the 5,000 opportunities available—from printing to event-management contracts, from training to abseiling services. There are still over £1 billion-worth of Olympic-related contracts up for grabs, which could also provide small- to medium-sized businesses with the opportunity to secure contracts for future global sporting events.
Surely only big businesses will come out on top?
In fact, around 74% of contracts have been awarded to SMEs, and 18% have gone to businesses with 10 or fewer staff. That leaves just 8% of contracts going to larger organisations.
Can businesses in our region benefit?
Yorkshire & Humber companies are already benefiting. For example, Hull-based Arco has successfully tendered for a 3-year contract for the provision of PPE, including eyewear, gloves, safety footwear, helmets and several versions of hi-visibility vests and coats.
Want to know more?
Register at www.competefor.com/business/login.jsp. You may find it useful to visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk&target=http://www.businesslink.gov.uk beforehand or call them on 0845 600 9 006.
What other help is there?
Ready....Set....Compete! is an event taking place at Leeds Town Hall on the 10th February 2010. This free event will be an opportunity to hear from the Chairman of the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority) and keynote speaker, John Armitt will provide an update on the construction programme and an excellent insight into opportunities available in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
You can find out more and register here.