SMEs get a go at the Olympics

The London 2012 Business Network website has been developed for small firms that have not pre-qualified as suppliers, unlike the larger firms seeking main contract work.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) expect 75,000 business opportunities for direct contractors and their supply chains.

The Business Network provides:

• Information on opportunities and how to supply London 2012;
• Business events;
• CompeteFor service, a “dating agency” to match companies to thousands of opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors.

SMEs already make up more than two-thirds of the 500 firms that have won Olympic contracts. Up to a fifth of the supply chain opportunities are expected to go through the CompeteFor system.

Both the CBI and the Federation of Small Businesses have endorsed the Business Network.

FSB co-ordinator for the London Games, Nick Winch, urged SMEs to register for CompeteFor: “Not only will it provide them with access to contracts, but registering will give SMEs a quick ‘MoT’ and, through access to business support, a helping hand on the way to greater business success,’ he said.

After registering company information, businesses can view the opportunities advertised. They then complete a business profile, which involves answering a series of simple questions.

This 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.