Scots businesses urged to supply 2012 games
The London 2012 Business Network, a one-stop online shop for businesses looking to get involved with London 2012 was launched in Scotland last week.
The Network has three component parts; essential information on upcoming opportunities and how to supply London 2012; listings of forthcoming business events; and the new CompeteFor service, a business ’dating agency’ that will match companies to thousands of opportunities supplying London 2012 and its contractors. Up to a fifth of London 2012 supply chain opportunities are expected to go through the CompeteFor system.
Olympic athlete Jonathan Edwards and Rob Knight the Head of Procurement of the Olympic Delivery Authority delivery partner joined Enterprise Minister Jim Mather to encourage Scottish businesses to register for the service.
According to Olympic athlete Jonathan Edwards "London 2012 is already providing a unique opportunity for businesses in Scotland to raise their profile on a global stage. The double opportunity for Scottish businesses of London 2012 Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games could make this a ’golden decade’ for Scottish businesses."
"The London 2012 Business Network will help companies make the most of the opportunities ahead. It will enable companies of all sizes and all sectors to compete for the thousands of London 2012 related contracts. Indeed, to date of the 650 companies that have already won over £2 billion worth of work supplying the ODA to date over 70% are small and medium (SMEs) size businesses."
Twelve Scottish companies have already secured contracts for London 2012, including Glasgow-based Nord Architecture which won the contract for the design of the electrical substation, and Mason Land Services from Dunfermline which has been working directly with the Olympic Delivery Authority to survey the Olympic Park.
Giving his support to the initiative, Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather said: "It is vital that Scottish businesses are able to compete for and secure contracts arising from the 2012 Olympic Games. I would urge Scottish businesses to grasp this opportunity, and those presented by the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. By doing so they can stimulate job creation and help increase sustainable economic growth - this Government’s core purpose."